There are some simple steps that you can take to make sure your heating system is working properly so that you can keep your house warm over the winter months.
If you are struggling to pay for heating costs visit our cost of living support page for advice.
How to check your gas central heating system
- Check your thermostat: turn the thermostat up to the highest setting, for example 30°C, to see if the boiler starts.
- Inspect the boiler: look for a digital display or pressure gauge, which should show a reading between 1 and 1.5 bar.
- Check the radiators:
- turn all radiator valves to the highest setting, such as 5
- if the radiators do not get warm, you may need to bleed the radiators to release trapped air
- Verify the gas supply: check your gas meter or try using your gas hob to make sure there is an active supply to your home. Look for simple fixes such as:
- checking the pilot light
- seeing if any pipes are frozen
- making sure the boiler fuse or power switch is not turned off
After carrying out these steps, if your heating is not working, you can report a repair online.
How to bleed your radiators
- Turn off your central heating system and make sure the radiators have cooled down. This prevents hot water from escaping and avoids burns.
- Locate the bleed valve - this is usually at the top corner of the radiator. It looks like a small square or slotted screw.
- Insert the radiator key into the bleed valve.
- Open the valve slowly by turning the radiator key anti-clockwise (left). You will hear a hissing sound - that is the air escaping.
- Wait for water to appear. Once water starts to trickle out steadily, the air has been released. Catch the water with a cloth or container.
- Close the valve tightly by turning the radiator key clockwise (right), but don’t overtighten.
- Now check your boiler's pressure gauge. If it is too low, you may need to top it up using the filling loop.
- Turn the heating back on and check if the radiator is warming up evenly.
After carrying out these steps, if your radiators are not hot, you can report a repair online.
Checking your Mitsubishi EcoDan air source heat pump
- Check the thermostat setting to make sure the thermostat is set to 'heat' and not 'auto'.
- Clean the air filter - a clogged filter can prevent the unit from heating effectively.
- Check that the outdoor unit is not blocked by any debris, plants, or other obstructions that could restrict airflow.
- Listen for unusual noises coming from the indoor or outdoor unit as this can be a sign that there is a problem.
The Mitsubishi Electric YouTube channel provides informative videos to support you with diagnosing issues, including one that explains how Mitsubishi heat pumps work and another on the compressor testing process.
After carrying out these steps, if your heating is not working, you can report a repair online.