The tree is up, the turkey is ordered, and the guest list is finalised. With the festive season in full swing across West London, your to-do list is likely miles long. But amidst the gift wrapping and food shopping, there is one crucial task that often gets overlooked until it’s too late: checking your central heating.

There is never a good time for a boiler breakdown, but Christmas Day has to be the worst. Imagine the in-laws shivering in their coats at the dinner table or the hot water running out just as your guests queue for a shower.

At West London Gas, we know that the festive period puts a unique strain on your home’s heating and plumbing. The system that has been ticking along quietly during autumn is suddenly asked to work overtime. To save you stress, money, and the chill of a mid-winter breakdown, here are our essential last-minute checks to ensure your home stays warm and welcoming this holiday.

Why Do Boilers Fail at Christmas?

It often feels like bad luck, but there is a logic to why heating systems struggle in late December.

1. Increased Demand: With family home all day and guests staying over, the heating is on for longer, and the demand for hot water spikes for showers and washing up.
2. The “Big Freeze”: Late December often brings a sharp drop in temperature, forcing the boiler to work harder to reach your thermostat’s target.
3. Inactivity: If you have a guest room radiator that hasn’t been turned on since last winter, opening the valve suddenly can sometimes reveal leaks or trapped air.

Your “Guest-Ready” Heating Checklist

Before your guests arrive, spare ten minutes to run through these checks. It’s the best way to ensure peace of mind.

1. The “Grandma Test” (Check Your Radiators)

You might be used to a cool house, but elderly relatives or guests might feel the cold more acutely.

• Go round every room: Turn all radiators on to check they heat up evenly.
• Feel for cold spots: If a radiator is hot at the bottom but cold at the top, it has trapped air. This limits the heat output and forces your boiler to work harder than necessary.
• The Fix: Bleed the radiators using a radiator key. If the problem persists or the radiator stays cold at the bottom (a sign of sludge), you may need professional heating repairs to flush the system.

2. Test the Hot Water Consistency

If you have five people staying over, your hot water cylinder or combi boiler needs to be in top form.

• Run the tap: Check that the water gets hot quickly and stays hot.
• Pressure check: If you have a combi boiler, check the pressure gauge is between 1.0 and 1.5 bar. High demand can highlight pressure issues that low usage masks.

3. Optimise Your Thermostat for a Full House

With a house full of people and a hot oven roasting dinner, your home will naturally generate more body heat.

• Don’t overheat: You might be able to turn the main thermostat down by one degree compared to your usual setting. This keeps the house comfortable without becoming stuffy and saves money on energy bills—money better spent on mince pies!
• Smart timing: Adjust your timer to ensure the house is warm when guests wake up, which might be earlier (or later!) than your usual work routine.

Safety First: The Carbon Monoxide Check

With windows closed tight against the winter chill and the heating firing constantly, safety is paramount.

• Test your alarm: Press the test button on your Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm. It takes five seconds and could save a life.
• Clear the flue: Ensure festive decorations or falling leaves haven’t blocked the external flue (exhaust pipe) of your boiler.

What if the Worst Happens?

Even with the best preparation, parts can wear out. If you do notice strange noises, a yellow flame instead of blue, or a sudden loss of pressure that topping up doesn’t fix, don’t wait until Christmas Eve.

Engineers are incredibly busy during the festive period. Identifying a small issue now means we can fix it before it becomes an emergency breakdown that ruins the big day.

We are Local, Reliable, and Ready to Help For over 25 years, West London Gas has been keeping homes in Ealing, Chiswick, Richmond, and beyond warm during the holidays. We are “big enough to cope, but small enough to care,” meaning we value your Christmas comfort as much as you do.

Don’t leave your comfort to chance this festive season.

If you are worried about your system, need a quick repair, or just want the peace of mind of a professional inspection before the relatives arrive, learn more about our heating repair services.

From all of us at West London Gas, we wish you a warm, safe, and happy festive season.