Frequently Asked Questions About Heating Services in Birmingham

A typical boiler service usually takes around 1 to 2 hours, depending on the type and condition of the boiler.

It’s recommended to have your boiler serviced annually to ensure it is operating efficiently and safely. Regular servicing can also help prevent unexpected breakdowns and prolong the lifespan of your boiler.

• To keep you and your family safe – people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning (the ‘silent killer’) through incorrectly installed and faulty gas appliances, which are never checked.
• To reduce the risk of costly boiler breakdowns, leaving you with no heating and no hot water.
• To improve the efficiency of your boiler and reduce your energy bills.
• To maintain the terms and conditions of your boiler warranty and guarantee.

We offer a non-contract, annual boiler service from £85.00 (inclusive of VAT) to carry out a service procedure from an old-style boiler to an up-to-date condensing boiler:

• As part of our service checklist, we provide every customer with a black-spot carbon monoxide detector.
• We also highly recommend the battery audible carbon monoxide detectors which we also offer for purchase.
• We service and maintain gas boilers in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions. Many modern-day boilers can be safety-checked with an analyser. This is a device which can determine both the boiler’s efficiency and any potential dangers present.
• Older conventional boilers, such as back boilers and open-flued appliances need to be checked much more thoroughly, stripped down and professionally cleaned.
• During a routine service, we carry out a gas leakage test of not just the boiler but of the whole gas installation.

Corrosion within central heating systems accounts for 60-70% of boiler breakdowns. Power flushing is the most effective cleansing method. The concept is simply to remove the debris, limescale and corrosion by connecting a power flush machine via the boiler or radiator pipework.

When combined with a suitable chemical cleanser, a power flush normally takes a maximum of 6 hours.

The benefits of our power flushing service include:

• As your central system is now clean, you can expect reduced energy bills, due to the boiler heating the system effectively.
• Our customers have noticed their systems working much more quietly.
• As there is no more black sediment in the radiators, cold spots are eliminated so that a more consistent heat is provided.
• Radiators do not require frequent venting. This is normally blamed on hydrogen being present in the radiators.
• Once the power flush is completed, we dose the system with an inhibitor which prevents future build-up of corrosion.

If you believe your system would benefit from a power flush, we can visit your home and carry out a simple pH test of the water circulating in your central heating system to determine the level of corrosion.

Once we complete the installation of your new boiler, we will provide you with a Gas Safe installation certificate. This certificate confirms that the installation has been carried out by a qualified engineer in compliance with all relevant regulations.

The duration of a boiler installation can vary depending on factors such as the type of boiler being installed and the complexity of the job. On average, a new boiler installation can take between 1 to 2 days, but our team will provide you with a more accurate timeframe based on your specific requirements during the initial consultation.

The cost of replacing a boiler will vary, but a straightforward gas boiler replacement will typically cost as follows:

• 2-bedroom house – from £2,100
• 3–4-bedroom house – from £2,500
• 5+ bedroom house – from £3,000

In terms of a full central heating system including a new boiler, radiators, pipework and boiler controls, typically this would cost:

• 2-bedroom house – from £3,200
• 3–4-bedroom house – from £3,700
• 5+ bedroom house – from £5,000

This example is based upon a new ‘A’ rated condensing combination boiler suitable for this size of home and sourced from any of the following boiler manufacturers:

• Worcester, Bosch Group
• Vaillant
• Baxi
• Ferroli
• Potterton
• Ariston

We can help make the purchase easier by accepting payment by debit card, as well as BACS transfer and finance plans.

Please contact us for advice and guidance, or a free quote.

All new boilers installed by RJS Heating come with a minimum of 5 years warranty as standard and, with some boilers, up to 12 years.

This length of boiler cover means added peace of mind and, in the unlikely event of a boiler breakdown, parts, labour and call-out fees are all covered.

The cost of boiler repairs can vary depending on the nature of the problem and the parts required. Our team will assess the issue and provide you with a transparent quote for the repair before any work begins.

Yes, a leaking boiler can often be repaired. Our experienced engineers will diagnose the cause of the leak and recommend the appropriate repair solution to fix the issue and ensure your boiler operates safely.

Most old gas boilers are regular boilers with a separate hot water cylinder storing hot water. When you replace your boiler, you have a choice of buying a new regular boiler, and keeping your hot water cylinder, or buying a combination boiler – commonly referred to as a combi boiler – that doesn’t need a cylinder.

A regular boiler provides hot water to a cylinder, but then heat is lost from the hot water cylinder, so a combi boiler may be more efficient overall. The best option for you will depend on several factors:

• How much hot water do you use? A large family using lots of hot water could be better off with a regular boiler – a smaller household using less hot water may be better off with a combi boiler.
• Are you short of space? A combi boiler doesn’t need a hot water cylinder, and so needs less space.
• Are you thinking of installing solar water heating? Many combi boilers are not compatible with solar water heating or cannot be used so effectively.

All new boilers on the market today are A-rated condensing boilers. There are then 3 types of boilers:

Regular boiler – considered to be a traditional boiler that is used in conjunction with a hot water cylinder and operates on lower pressures. Regular boilers are typically used in older properties where the existing central heating system may not be robust enough to take a pressurised system, usually with a top-up tank located in the roof space.

Combi boiler – unlike a regular boiler, hot water is created at the boiler without the need for a separate hot water cylinder. You only heat the water that you use when you use it. Most of the new boilers that are installed are combi boilers because they are more efficient, cheaper to run and space saving.

System boiler – a fully pressurised boiler normally used on larger properties with a significant number of radiators. It is used in conjunction with an insulated stainless steel hot water cylinder and omits the need for top-up tanks to be installed in roof spaces.

LPG boilers are typically installed in holiday homes, rural areas or where mains gas is not available – typically known as off-grid customers. The options regarding the type of boiler to choose are the same as for mains gas boilers.

• LPG boilers are currently more cost-effective than oil-fired boilers since a high proportion of LPG’s energy content is converted into heat. LPG has a comparatively high heating value, which means that it contains more energy per kilogram than most competing fuels. LPG can be up to five times more efficient than traditional fuels, resulting in less energy wastage.
• LPG boilers are also more cost-effective to maintain and can be installed quickly and easily.
• LPG is a cleaner fuel with lower greenhouse gas emissions than any other fossil fuel when measured on a total fuel cycle. LPG helps to reduce carbon emissions, which are the second biggest contributor to global warming. The combustion of LPG emits 33% less CO2 than coal and 15% less than heating oil, burns cleanly and poses no threat to soil or water.
• LPG is environmentally friendly and helps to reduce the emissions of a typical house by around 1.5 tonnes of CO2 per year.
• LPG will be in plentiful supply for many years to come – meaning security of supply.

Combining LPG with renewable heating
Simply replacing an ageing boiler with a modern condensing boiler can significantly reduce carbon emissions. LPG can also easily work in combination with renewable heating systems as householders look to improve their home’s efficiency. The integration of LPG and low-carbon or renewable technologies is therefore an increasingly attractive option with products being developed for the natural gas market, such as gas-powered heat pumps and hybrid systems.

If you are currently extending or remodelling your house, you will need to review your current heating capacity as your existing heating system may not be able to heat the new area sufficiently. This may involve simply fitting additional radiators or installing underfloor heating – or it may require upgrading your boiler.

We can assess your current central heating system and recommend the best solution for providing additional heating to the new areas of your home. We provide this assessment free of charge with no obligation. Please call us to arrange a home visit.

Radiators vs. underfloor heating
Radiators provide more instantaneous heat, are more controllable and are more cost-effective.

Underfloor heating provides seamless heat throughout the area, is space-saving and is more efficient because it produces usable heat at lower temperatures.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, poisonous gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires. Incomplete combustion can be caused by:

• Incorrect installation
• Inadequate ventilation
• Poor maintenance and servicing

Carbon monoxide kills you by starving your body of oxygen. Children are at greater risk, as the smaller the victim, the quicker the body can be overcome by the poisonous carbon monoxide effects that take place.

Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm – carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that has no colour, taste or smell, making it impossible to detect without an alarm. Carbon monoxide alarms must be audible – they make a loud noise if gas is present. Ensure the alarm has good-quality batteries fitted and test the alarm to see if would wake you if you were asleep. Make sure it has a British and European kite mark. We recommend these over the use of ‘Black Spot’ indicators as these are not as accurate and will not alert or wake you if there is carbon monoxide in your home.

Use only Gas Safe registered installers – only have gas appliances installed by a professional Gas Safe registered heating engineer. Never carry out illegal installations or services of your gas appliances by unregistered workers.

Service your heating appliances – for protection from carbon monoxide poisoning, you must have all fuel-burning appliances – including stoves, fires, boilers and water heaters – serviced annually by a qualified and registered engineer.

Don’t block ventilation – it is dangerous to block ventilation to your heating appliances as it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Have chimneys swept and vents cleared.

Know the signs – recognising the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and knowing the danger signs around your appliances is the last line of defence. The six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness. Many of the symptoms of carbon monoxide are like those of flu, food poisoning, viral infections, or simple tiredness.

If your alarm goes off or you spot other signs of carbon monoxide:

• Open doors and windows for ventilation and leave the room to get some fresh air.
• Seek medical advice if you or others feel unwell or call 999 in an emergency.
• Turn off the gas and all heating appliances and do not use them until you have had them checked by a registered heating engineer.
• Call us to arrange a call-out to check the safety of your gas appliances.
• If gas appliances are in the property, do not smoke, do not turn light switches on or off and do not do anything to create a spark.