Archives January 15, 2023

Should you service your boiler in the summer or winter?

It is easy to overlook having your boiler serviced but failing to do so on an annual basis could have serious consequences much worse than the inconvenience and expense of a single service.

Even if your boiler has been working perfectly to the best of your knowledge, there could be some minor underlying issues that a service would identify that otherwise would develop into something much more serious.

Failing to have your boiler serviced could also invalidate the warranty that comes with it from the manufacturer, meaning that if the dreaded breakdown does come in the dead of winter, you will likely have to end up spending a fortune on emergency engineer call-outs, repairs, or even replacements.

Speaking of the dead of winter, there is a slight disagreement amongst many about the right time of year to have this essential service carried out.

For some, the summer, is preferable, as any issues can easily be sorted long before temperatures drop and demand rises, whilst others suggest that having the service right before the colder months begin will ensure the best chance of making it through without any issues.

Struggling to decide when to have your boiler serviced? Luckily, we are here to help. This guide will break down the pros and cons of both summer and winter boiler servicing to help your make the most informed decision possible.

Summer

During the summer months, it can be easy to forget about your boiler altogether as this is the time where demand is at its lowest. Many people don’t touch their home heating system for months at this time, but could this actually make it the perfect time to have your boiler serviced?

Some of the biggest potential reasons that this could be the case include:

Low activity

The biggest benefit to summer boiler installation is that it is unlikely to be in use at the time.

This makes it ideal for an engineer to come in, identify any issues, and resolve them, all before the boiler is required.

If minor, or even major work, is required, the effect on the lives of those living in the property will be minimal as they probably weren’t relying on the boiler anyway.

Flexibility

Due to the low demand of summer, it is often much easy to get an appointment for a boiler service.

In the winter, even if you are only looking for a routine service and there is nothing wrong with your boiler, engineers will be much busier dealing with emergency call-outs, meaning you might have to wait some time to get an appointment.

You may also be able to get a reduced rate for a boiler service at this time as in the winter, engineers will often charge ‘peak season rates”.

Winter

The winter is the time you use your boiler most, and continued smooth operation is critical to the safety and comfort of you and your loved ones.

Getting a boiler service in the winter, or just before the winter truly sets in, will give you peace of mind that it will work efficiently for the rest of the season.

Some of the benefits of a winter boiler service include:

Safety

Carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for 50 deaths and 4000 hospital visits every single year in the UK.

The majority of these are caused by faulty boilers and failing to have your boiler serviced this winter could make you more at risk.

During any service, the engineer will conduct several tests to identify any harmful gases that may be escaping from your boiler.

If none are found, or action is taken to resolve any leaks, you will have peace of mind that your home is safe from carbon monoxide throughout the winter months.

Reduce energy bills

In this current cost of living crisis, it is easy to think that boiler service Glasgow is an unnecessary cost that can be avoided.

However, this is actually an excellent investment to make as regular servicing improves the energy efficiency of your boiler and reduces the amount of gas you need to use to heat your home this winter.

Many engineers will also give you some excellent advice on the best way to run your boiler in the most energy efficient manner and further protect yourself from rising energy bills.

Protect your warranty

A final important reason to have your boiler serviced, be it in the summer or the winter, is to ensure you do not invalidate your warranty.

Most new boilers come with a warranty of around 10 years, but most are only valid if you have the boiler serviced on an annual basis.

Failing to do so could result in large repair or replacement bills if a breakdown occurs in the future.

5 Common Lip Filler Myths

When it comes to lip fillers, many people are understandably cautious.

Poorly executed lip implants and injections can leave bloating and swelling that is instantly notable and is one of the most obvious tell-tale signs that a person has had cosmetic work done.

However, rapid advances in lip filler technologies and composition in recent years mean that this stigma may no longer be justified.

In fact, recent research has shown that lip fillers comprised of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the human body, are actually some of the safest cosmetic treatments that it is possible to get.

This is becoming one of the worst kept secrets in the cosmetic industry, however, and lip fillers are on the rise with more and more people seeing the advantages of opting for a non-surgical treatment.

Based on some of the common misconceptions found among those considering lip filler treatments, we have put together this guide to 5 of the most common myths surrounding the entire process.

Myth 1: Lip fillers are Irreversible

Understandably, the thought of being stuck with a botched or unsatisfactory lip filling for the rest of your life may put you off having the procedure.

However, as long as you opt for a hyaluronic acid-based filler you will be able to reverse the effects if required.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that will dissolve itself over time.

In around 9-12 months the effects of lip fillers will have worn off anyway and another treatment will be required to replenish the benefits that you have enjoyed thus far.

This means that if you are not quite happy with the way they have made your lips look, you will not be stuck with the results for years to come.

If you are really displeased with the outcome or something goes wrong during the procedure and filler leaks towards your nose or check, your doctor will be able to inject hyaluronidase, an enzyme that will immediately dissolve the filler.

Once this has been done your lips will return to their original shape and size as soon as the swelling has gone down.

Myth 2: Lip fillers don’t work on younger people

Given that tackling signs of aging is one of the most common reasons people choose to have lip fillers, many believe that they are only suitable for older people and there is no significant benefit for the under 40s.

However, other reasons for fillers include achieving symmetry in the face, and considering that hyaluronic acid helps to maintain collagen production, having fillers injected could actually prevent the signs of aging and reduce any more invasive work that needs to be carried out later on in life.

Myth 3: It is easy to tell who has had lip fillers

Watch any reality TV show and you will probably spot at least one person who has blatantly had their lips plumped using cosmetic treatment.

However, there are many more who have also had fillers that you will never notice, because the effects of their injections look natural.

Hyaluronic acid based fillers put in place by an experienced dermatologist are almost indeterminable and are far less likely to result in bloating than implants or other cosmetic treatments.

Furthermore, as mentioned above it is possible to dissolve the filler once it is in place so if you are really worried about the end result then your doctor will be able to perform remedial work.

Myth 4: Lip fillers need to be refilled on a regular basis

It is true that lip fillers break down over time and need to be re-applied every so often in order to maintain the effects.

The precise frequency of your visits to the clinic will depend on a number of different factors including the type of filler used and the rate at which your body breaks down the hyaluronic acid.

Lip fillers do need to be refilled more regularly than other fillers offered by cosmetic clinics as the high activity level of the area (chewing, smiling, yawning, talking etc.) will speed up the rate at which the filler breaks down.

Myth 5: Lip fillers leave saggy lips when they wear off

There is a common concern among those who have never had lip fillers Glasgow before that once they start, they will have to continue with the injections forever, as the area where the filler has dissolved will sag.

This is completely false. In fact, given that hyaluronic acid prompts our bodies to produce more collagen, even once the filler itself has dissolved the skin’s dermis will actually have thickened, significantly reducing the chances of wrinkles and aging lines in the area.