Updated: 8th May, 2025
Over the summer months, many of us tend to use our central heating much less and sometimes not at all.
Unfortunately, leaving boilers inactive for such long periods of time can lead to serious issues when it comes to turning it back on as the colder months approach.
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at some steps you can take over summer to avoid the need for repairs in winter.
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Getting your boiler serviced is an absolute must in order to protect it and keep it running efficiently all year round.
Contrary to common misconception, the best time to have your boiler serviced is actually during the summer months as once winter approaches, so do the boiler breakdowns, meaning heating engineers across the country are fully booked by callouts.
Over summer, engineers are far less busy so you can schedule your service for a time and date that is best for you.
By getting your boiler serviced before the cold weather hits, you’re getting it prepared and reducing the risks of issues cropping up over winter, meaning you won’t have to wait in the cold for your boiler to be fixed.
The boiler is fired to identify any faults
The main components including the burner, heat exchanger and the spark electrode are checked
Flue terminals and internal flue compartments are checked and sealed properly
Using a flue gas analyser, the burner is checked to make sure it’s burning efficiently
Boiler parts are cleaned if necessary
Gas tightness test is conducted to ensure there are no gas leaks
Boiler casing is checked to make sure it's sealed properly
A boiler service helps to make sure your boiler is running properly and can identify small issues early on before they become much more serious problems that could result in expensive repair costs or even replacement.
Having your boiler serviced also ensures that it is operating safely. This is incredibly important as each year around 60 people die from Carbon Monoxide poisoning each year due to its ability to go undetected in day-to-day life. A boiler service can help to identify a carbon monoxide leak and put a stop to it, keeping your family and home safe.
Your boiler warranty may also become invalid if you do not have it serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer as many manufacturers state this as a requirement in their terms and conditions.
Here at iHeat we offer up to 10 Year warranties, so to ensure your warranty remains valid, you must have an annual service performed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Is your boiler not working? We have a great information on identifying if this is going to be a costly issue or not.
Whilst you may feel like you don’t need to use your boiler over summer thanks to the warmer weather, it isn’t recommended to leave it inactive for such a long period of time as the system can become stagnant and develop buildups which lead to blockages and breakdowns.
This is why we would recommend running your boiler at least once during the summer just to ensure everything is still running smoothly and to reduce the risk of issues over winter that could require costly repairs or even replacement.
A central heating inhibitor is a chemical liquid that is used to prevent sludge buildup in your heating system, prolonging its lifespan and helping to keep it running efficiently. Over time, dirt, rust, limescale and other debris can build up in your radiators and pipes, causing blockages, inefficiency and potentially breakdowns.
The chemicals in the inhibitor break down these minerals before they can become sludge, acting as a first defence.
If your heating system has been somewhat neglected over the years and you find that your boiler is running less efficiently or that your radiators frequently need to be bled, your system likely has a buildup of sludge. Fortunately a powerflush can remedy this.
A power flush is a deep clean of your central heating system that works by pushing a powerful, low pressure flow of liquid through the system using a power flush machine.
On average, a power flush should be performed every five to six years in order to keep your boiler running effectively and efficiently, however there are some signs that you can look out for that indicate when you should get a power flush:
Cold spots around the home
Radiators need to be bled constantly
Leaking and noisy radiators when the heating is on
Frequent boiler breakdowns and issues in the system
It takes a long time for the heating to kick in
Hot pipes, despite the radiators being cold to the touch
The boiler needs to be restarted regularly
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Yes, putting your boiler on summer mode can help conserve energy during the warmer months. Summer mode lowers the temperature for hot water heating, reducing energy consumption while still providing enough hot water for your needs.
In summer, it's a good idea to reduce the boiler's temperature setting, or switch it to summer mode if your boiler has this feature. This ensures that the boiler doesn’t run unnecessarily for central heating, while still providing hot water when needed.
Your boiler might still run in summer if it’s being used for hot water or if it’s set to provide central heating as well. Some boilers are set to activate automatically if the water temperature drops below a certain level. It’s best to ensure that the heating is turned off or put in summer mode if you don’t need it.
In summer, the recommended temperature for your boiler’s hot water setting is around 60°C. This is enough to provide hot water for daily use while avoiding excess energy consumption. You can lower it further if you use hot water sparingly.
The ideal temperature for a combi boiler is around 75°C to 80°C for heating the home, while 60°C is generally suitable for hot water. For efficiency, it’s important to set the boiler at a temperature that meets your needs without using excess energy.
The most economical way to use a combi boiler is to only use the heating when needed and set it to the lowest effective temperature. You can use timers or smart thermostats to program heating and hot water usage according to your daily schedule, helping to avoid heating when it’s not required.
No, leaving a combi boiler on all the time is not usually cheaper. It’s more economical to only heat water when you need it and to use timers to turn the heating on and off as necessary. This prevents energy wastage and keeps running costs lower.
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