While almost a quarter of UK residents turn to their boiler manuals to resolve an issue, only 9% have agreed to instructions being simple to follow.
That’s according to new research by Uswitch.com, which reveals that boiler manuals from the manufacturer Ideal Heating are the easiest to read.
boilers statistics
As part of their boilers statistics, the experts utilized the Flesch reading ease test to investigate 130 manuals from the UK’s ten most popular boiler manufacturers. The Flesch reading ease test determines readability by analyzing the average length of sentences (word count) and the number of syllables per word.
Ultimately, the boiler manufacturer with the most understandable manual (shorter sentences and fewer syllables per word) was revealed.
Ideal Heating’s installation and service
Made up of the fewest long sentences and shortest words, instructions from Ideal Heating are most easily read
Uswitch.com can reveal that Ideal Heating’s installation and service manuals are the easiest to understand, scoring 61.40/100. Made up of the fewest long sentences and shortest words (by syllable), instructions from this boiler manufacturer are the most easily read by users.
Interestingly, 36% of Ideal Heating’s customers identified the simplicity of their systems as being the primary reason they’d recommend it to someone, according to a survey conducted by Uswitch.com in December 2022. A third of Ideal Heating’s customers (35%) are confident in fixing low boiler pressure themselves if guided by the manufacturer's instructions, and 22% are comfortable getting their pilot light back on.
Alpha
Following in a close second is the manufacturer Alpha scoring 60.59/100 for readability. Uswitch.com’s survey revealed that Alpha’s customers are comfortable using their manufacturer’s manual, and 37% would be confident using it to fix an issue with their boiler.
This is twice more than Baxi’s customers (19.7%), which ranks fifth with a manual readability of 59.63 out of 100.
Intergas
Ranking third is the boiler manufacturer Intergas with a readability score of 60.07 out of 100, followed by Vaillant (59.71/100).
Two in five (41%) of Vaillant’s customers agree that the manuals from the boiler manufacturer are easy and simple to understand.
Atag manuals rank lowest in readability
Atag are likely to struggle the most in understanding its manual instructions, as they have the longest sentences
Those who own a boiler from Atag are likely to struggle the most in understanding its manual instructions, as they have the longest sentences and most complex words.
Scoring just 53.35 out of 100, Atag’s boiler manuals are ranked the lowest for readability of all manufacturers studied.
troubleshooting common boiler problems
Ben Gallizzi, the boiler expert at Uswitch.com, offers advice on how to troubleshoot common boiler problems, “Our survey revealed that on average 1 in 4 Brits feel confident in tackling their boiler issues themselves."
"While some problems require professional assistance, others can be fixed by consulting your manufacturer’s manual. Here are some tips from our guide on how to troubleshoot common boiler problems:
- Check your manual – The instruction manual provided by your boiler manufacturer is often the first step to resolving an issue. If there is an error code displayed on your boiler, check what the corresponding issue is to identify the exact issue you should target.
- Check your pipes – As we enter the colder months, frozen outdoor pipes can often lead to no heating as no water is reaching the boiler. If your condensate pipe is frozen, heat the area with some warm water (not boiling), or apply heat to the pipe with a hairdryer or electric blanket.
- Check your thermostat – If the thermostat is disconnected from the boiler, it can also be an obstacle to getting heating in your home. Try nudging your thermostat up a few degrees to kickstart it into action. Also, check if any switches have been knocked out of place. If the problem persists, try resetting the thermostat following manufacturer instructions.
- Check your boiler pressure – If your boiler pressure is too high or too low, both can create leaks in the system that prevent your boiler from running efficiently. To resolve this first check your boiler’s pressure gauge. If an issue is detected, follow your boiler instruction manual to repressurize the system.”