HEAT ME UP
I’m a British Gas engineer – the £2 tool that cut your energy bills by £600 this winter
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A BRITISH gas engineer has shared a cheap product which can save your boiler from breaking down this winter.
During the winter months, you might find your boiler is more prone to issues because of increased use and colder weather leading parts of the boiler to contract.
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This includes your boiler pipes which are at risk of freezing as temperatures drop.
If this happens it can mean you are left without hot water, central heating and if left untreated it may lead to cracked or burst pipes.
Fixing an issue like this can cost anywhere from £150 to £600 - but there are preventive measures you can take to ensure this does not happen.
The Sun spoke to Sunny Solanki, a British Gas service and repair engineer who shared a cost-effective hack that many households are unaware of.
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Sunny told Sun readers they should consider investing in pipe lagging wrap- a product which can be found at most DIY and hardware stores.
The wrap is made out of many different materials including polyethene foam, wool or fibreglass.
You can roll it around your pipes and it reduces heat loss and stops pipes from freezing.
The 40-year-old explained that you can keep the wrap "all year round".
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He added: "[The product] sticks over it [your boiler] and it can prevent any pipes from freezing.
"It's cheap [and] you can get it from most, pretty much any DIY store."
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The Sun found one metre of pipe-lagging wrap for £1.97 on the B&Q website.
The product got rave reviews with one shopper saying it was "just what they needed" to stop their pipes from freezing.
Screwfix is also selling Spiral Wrap Insulation for £3.18, which customers have described as "easy to use".
Sunny said the wrap is easy to install but if someone is unstable on their feet they should ask for help.
He added: "We don't want somebody who's not that stable or on their feet, climbing up ladders and doing things they are not comfortable doing."
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO STOP PIPES FREEZING?
If you find your pipes are frozen, Sunny explained that pouring hot water on the pipes can help with the defrosting process.
However, the expert explained that it should not warm and not boiling.
He even suggested using a hot water bottle to help "slowly" unfreeze the pipes.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BOILER BREAKS DOWN
If you think that your boiler is broken it is important that you contact a trained professional to avoid any further complications or harm to you or others.
It is important that you call an engineer and ensure they are gas safety registered before they carry out any work on your home.
You can find a qualified engineer by visiting the Gas Safety Register online at //www.gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer-or-check-the-register/.
The Gas Safety Register also recommends getting a quote from at least two of three different businesses before you make your choice.
The group said you will need to provide details of the work that needs to be done and location of your boiler inside the property.
It is also recommended that you can see if these business can provide references from previous customers.
Consumer expert Martyn James recommends not waiting for an emergency before you contact a specialist.
He said: "Don't wait for an emergency. Check out the best specialists in the area and find out what their callout fees are along with their reviews online
"Give them a call and build a relationship in advance."
COULD YOU GET A BOILER FOR FREE?
Forking out for a new boiler can cost between £1,000 and £3,500, according to British Gas estimates, depending on the model.
And even paying for a repair can cost anywhere from £100 to £500.
However, some households could be entitled to grants or freebies to help replace their boilers when they break.
One example is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which was launched by the government to help households replace fossil fuel heating systems with more eco-friendly alternatives.
To qualify for this scheme you must own the property you are looking to upgrade.
You must find an MCS-certified installer to claim the grant on your behalf.
MCS is the certification scheme for energy-efficiency product installers.
You can find the nearest ones to you by visiting www.mcscertified.com/find-an-installer, but it is worth shopping for a few quotes.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The Sun previously shared how you can get up to £7,500 off a new boiler, which you can read here.
SUNNY'S TOP TIPS
SUNNY Solanki, a Leicester-based service and repair engineer at British Gas is sharing advice for households who want to prepare their homes for the weather and reduce the chance of a heating system breakdown
Optimize your thermostat: It can be tempting to crank up the thermostat on colder days, but what’s the right temperature? Set your main thermostat between 18°C and 21°C to save around 10% on your heating bills. For an average household, lowering the temperature by just one degree could save you about £115 a year.
Check boiler pressure: The first sign of a low-pressure boiler is if your heating or hot water isn’t working properly. But to find out for sure, check the water pressure gauge on the front on your boiler. This will be either a hydraulic dial or a digital reading. Ideally, the gauge should read between 1 and 1.5. But if it reads less than 1 bar, your boiler pressure is too low and needs re-pressurising
Bleed your radiators: Air can get trapped in the system, forming bubbles at the top of the radiators and reducing their efficiency. If you feel cold spots near the top, turn the radiators off and allow them to cool. Then, use a radiator key to open the valve at the top and release the trapped air.
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