Many will have put it off for as long as possible. However, now that daytime temperatures are dropping below 10 degrees, the central heating is back on in many homes. Before you start turning the knobs, there are a few things you should check. Even if you have a heater, district heating or electric heat pump.
Almost all Dutch houses are still heated on natural gas for the time being. But: the central heating system only works properly if the amount of water and air in the system is correct. Often after a few months of inactivity you notice that the radiators only get half warm or make bubbling noises.
It means that there are air pockets in your heating pipes and radiators. That is why it is good to bleed the system and refill it with water before switching the heating back on.
Bleed
How do you do that? follow these steps from boiler manufacturer Vaillant. The main points:
– First turn on all radiators so that the water and air in the pipes are heated.
– Set the thermostat (if you have one) to the lowest setting and turn off the boiler. Close all radiator valves.
– Wait five minutes and grab a bleed key (available at any hardware store) and a cloth.
– Open the radiator valve with the bleed key. Keep a cloth handy. If a lot of water comes out, you can close it again. Start with the lowest placed radiator in the house.
– Then open the taps again and turn on the thermostat to the desired temperature.
– Check the water pressure of the boiler. If it is still red, the pressure is too low and the boiler must be topped up with water.
An electric air-to-water heat pump also has a delivery system with water, and air in the pipes can also cause problems during heating. Most heat pumps are in new-build houses with underfloor heating. The video below helps with re-balancing the heating:
Check shovel
To keep the first cold at bay, many people light their stove or fireplace again during this period. But before you do that, it’s best to check whether your fireplace is in order. Birds often make nests in them and those dried branches can catch fire, as can deposits such as soot or creosote.
According to the fire service, chimney fires are in the top three of the largest causes of residential fires. The fire service expects the number of chimney fires to increase in the near future, now that more people are burning wood or pellets due to the high gas prices.
Is your chimney connected to your central heating system? Then cleaning your chimney is part of the mandatory maintenance of your central heating system. You can call on a chimney sweep or a recognized technician who will also check your boiler.
According to the fire service, you can prevent a fire in the chimney in this way:
– Have your chimney swept at least annually.
– Choose a company that is affiliated with Algemene Schoorsteenvegers Patrons Bond (ASPB).
– Provide a bucket of sand next to the fireplace/stove/chimney. Never extinguish with water.
– Use firelighters when lighting (never petrol or spirit).
– Fire according to the Swiss method.
Be alert for carbon monoxide
With the start-up of heating appliances, the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning also arises. This mainly happens between the months of October and February. You cannot smell, see or feel CO. That’s what makes it so dangerous.
CO is also created if appliances are not properly adjusted, or if your chimney does not draw properly. If there is CO in the room, you inhale it unnoticed and your blood absorbs the poison through your lungs. The symptoms include lethargy, dizziness, headache and lethargy. At high concentrations you become unconscious. People even die from it (ten to fifteen per year in the Netherlands). This usually happens in small, poorly insulated spaces such as houseboats.
According to the fire service, you can do this to prevent poisoning from occurring:
– Leave a schedule open or a window ajar 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
– Have the heating checked by a professional.
– Place a carbon monoxide detector, at least in the room where the heating appliance or fireplace is located. Since July 1 of this year, it is mandatory to have a smoke detector in the house, but this obligation does not yet apply to a CO detector.
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