The heat is on...as long as the boiler is working!

BRITISH Gas has warned households to ensure their boiler is ready for winter now to avoid problems as the cold months set in.

- By Josie Clarke

The reminder comes as the majority of homeowners prepare to switch their heating on by the end of the month.

The gas firm said more than 1.2 million customers had called its engineers to fix broken boilers last winter and get their heating and hot water back up and running after “unwanted issues”.

Customer data has showed there is a big boiler switch-on each year during the first September cold snap, but the majority turn their heating on in late October or when there are four consecutive days of temperatures below 9C.