Well, it’s nearing that time of year again, and we have already felt the effects of cold mornings creeping in, and with temperatures set to be at record lows this year, it’s time to get your church ready for winter.
Last year we saw temperatures plummet to an unbearable -13 degrees C in some parts of the country, but that’s nothing to the coldest temperature ever recorded in the UK, a staggering -27 degrees C was recorded in Braemer in 1982. Although we aren’t expecting a polar vortex this year, we can put our bets on it being a very cold winter indeed, so it’s essential that your church heating system is fully prepared for the forthcoming cold front.
Ice can wreak havoc on any heating system, but church heating systems in particular are prone to damage because their pipes are quite often exposed to the elements. If you have any external pipework, or even piping running in a particularly cold basement, it is essential that you protect them. When the water in a pipe freezes it will expand, it usually take several contractions, but eventually the pipe may split. Once this happens, you’re in for a messy encounter. When the ice melts, you’re then left with a big gaping hope for all the water to rush out of, and before you know it you have a catastrophic leak. The first thing to do is shut off your mains water supply. Then the only way it can be fixed is to replace that pipe.
So how can we prevent this from happening? The cheapest preventative method is to fit pipe insulation along with heat tape, it’s very easy to do, and most caretakers would tackle this job, its a cast of cutting the rubber sheaths down to size, and slipping them over the pipe. Alternatively you can invest in an electronic monitoring and heating unit that keeps running water at a steady temperature as to not drop to the freezing stage.
Reliability of your boiler is another key aspect to look at, you need to make sure that it won’t suddenly pack in at the most inopportune time, like before a large mass or a winter wedding. The best way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to have you boiler serviced. A major service needs only be completed once a year, but it will ensure that it will run efficiently and reliably throughout the year. A full service won’t take too long, and includes checking every aspect of the boiler, from the pilot light to the flue, and everything in-between. Our specialist church heating engineers will perform an thermo inspection, which will show any cold spots of the system, they will change the filers and any damaged or worn parts.
It is vital to catch any potential problems before they occur, it’s much cheaper to repair a system rather than having to replace it further down the line when the damage has become irreparable.
If you would like the peace of mind from checking your church heating system is winter ready, give the experts a call today.
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