Gas distributors advise servicing appliances in summer as autumn waits grow longer

The Czech Republic is experiencing tropical temperatures, and most households are currently more concerned with cooling than heating. However, experts point out that now is the ideal time to prepare gas appliances for the upcoming heating season. GasNet, the Czech Republic’s largest gas distributor, recommends that people have their gas boilers and other equipment inspected during the summer. With the arrival of autumn, service companies see a significant annual increase in customer demand, and waiting times become longer.

With the start of the heating season in autumn, service companies are often already fully booked, and waits for routine inspections and any necessary repairs are longer. Regular servicing helps prevent breakdowns, improves operational safety and can also help reduce unnecessary heating costs. Gas boilers and other gas equipment should be inspected at least once a year.

While gas distributor GasNet maintains the gas pipelines, the operator is responsible for the functionality and technical condition of gas equipment downstream of the main gas shut-off valve and within the property. This is usually the property owner, who should always turn to specialist gas service companies for maintenance of household equipment.

“We recommend that all customers have their gas-consuming equipment, such as boilers, cookers and in-house distribution systems, serviced during the summer. Servicing provides assurance of safe operation and helps prevent complications during winter, when the equipment is subject to greater loads,” said GasNet Operations Director Petr Koutný.

A service visit can uncover, for example, dirt in burners and the combustion chamber or other operational faults that may reduce combustion efficiency and lead to the formation of harmful substances, such as carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is dangerous if it escapes into living spaces. Malfunctioning equipment may also consume more gas than usual, making its operation unnecessarily costly for the customer.

During a regular inspection, a technician checks the correct combustion settings using a flue gas analyser, the tightness of the distribution system, the functioning of safety features and the condition of the electrical installation. For condensing gas boilers, they also check that condensate is being properly drained. Professional cleaning followed by combustion adjustment helps improve equipment operation and extend its service life.

Inspections and servicing must be entrusted to professionals

Arranging an appointment with a heating engineer or gas service technician is not difficult. Servicing is offered by manufacturers and retailers of gas appliances, as well as companies specialising in heating, gas and plumbing work. Some gas suppliers with which customers have signed gas supply contracts also offer inspections as part of their services.

As in other cases, when choosing a provider for regular inspections or gas boiler servicing, it is not advisable to decide on price alone; previous experience and any references should also be considered.

“Inspections should be carried out exclusively by professionals trained directly by the manufacturer of the specific equipment and qualified to perform any necessary repairs,” stressed Petr Koutný of GasNet.

Experts unanimously advise against waiting until the last minute before the new heating season begins to arrange an inspection. Customers should book an inspection of their appliances now, before gas service companies’ calendars fill up. This will ensure that their gas equipment is ready for winter in time and help them avoid unexpected breakdowns during the heating season.

Preventing contamination

For households that have previously experienced problems with the formation of contaminants, gas professionals recommend installing a filter downstream of the appliance connection fitting as an additional measure. This makes it possible to capture mechanical impurities that can occasionally arise in in-house gas distribution systems.

Their formation is always caused by specific technical parameters at the point of consumption, and where this occurs, professional assistance should always be called in. During an inspection, the technician cleans the distribution system by blowing it through and may then recommend installing a protective mesh (filter) upstream of gas appliances.

As for natural gas itself, gas distributors guarantee that its quality complies with regulations. Customers can check the composition and properties of the supplied natural gas at any time on the distribution company’s website. The largest Czech distributor, GasNet, regularly publishes the data on its Gas quality | GasNet page.