A broken boiler or burst pipe during the winter months is every householder's nightmare, for some replacing the aging or decrepit boiler will save you money immediately and probably more importantly you will see long-term benefits and be safe in the knowledge that you have peace of mind over the winter months. By scrutinizing your heating bills each year you will be able to ascertain just how effective your water heater has been and consider changing providers should there be a particular spike in your heating expenditure. Then of course there's the safety issue, whenever a fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene or charcoal is burned as long as there is proper ventilation then there is no threat but if it becomes trapped in a room with due to a vent being covered it can have potentially lethal consequences when carbon monoxide is released. Stains or soot around a fire or on top of the unit itself is a clear indication that its time to get a CORGI registered engineer in. If you turn on your gas fire and watch the flame if it is an orangey yellow colour its ok, but if it's bright yellow vacate the premises and contact your supplier.



Some people will choose to purchase breakdown cover for these eventualities but its worth bearing in mind that before you go ahead and purchase breakdown cover you should check your household insurance policy as some companies include emergency cover on home insurance policies for free. With older units it's imperative that the check should take place at once every 12 months. It would also be prudent to purchase a carbon monoxide detector as it is undetectable to the senses.

Top Tips to save on winter utility bills

?In winter time you can save on your energy bills by turning your thermostat down this can reduce your heating bill from anywhere from 2-4%, you can achieve such savings simply by setting your thermostat at a lower level during the daytime.

?By opening your curtains in the morning you allow your house to absorb some of the heat of the sun and closing them at night seals this in.

?By wrapping an insulation blanket around your old water heater and the pipes that lead to it you can conserve heat and reduce your carbon footprint.

?Reduce hot water usage by buying a water-saving showerhead.

?When not in use turn off all appliances at the socket.

?Substitute baths for showers and replace washers on leaky taps.

?Add attic insulation

?Finally the key to saving on heating bills is to have your heating equipment checked by a qualified CORGI engineer. Engineers will generally be more than willing to offer advise and alternatives to cut your bills down to size.