October has been another busy month for the PGS team, with boiler breakdowns, servicing, plumbing repairs and plenty of hands-on learning for our apprentices. We’ve also welcomed an important new addition to the team, with Martin joining us as our new Operations Director.
A Boiler Horror Story! 🔧
One of this month’s standout jobs involved an old boiler that had developed a serious fault. The heat exchanger had split, and the team discovered a completely blocked bypass valve, which was likely to have contributed to the problem. With water unable to circulate properly, heat built up inside the boiler over time, eventually leading to its failure.
Alex and Kellan, alongside our apprentice Lily, replaced the failed boiler, powerflushed the heavily blocked heating system, replaced the faulty bypass valve and fitted a new magnetic filter to help protect the system from future sludge build-up.
It’s a good reminder of how important it is to keep heating systems properly maintained. Issues hidden within a system can develop over time, so regular servicing can help identify potential problems before they become bigger headaches.
Keeping the Heating Running 🔥
With winter approaching, our engineers have been busy carrying out routine boiler servicing, oil servicing and gas injector cleans to help keep heating systems working as they should.
Kellan also carried out a routine service on a boiler that hadn’t been serviced since 2018, making it its first service in eight years. He cleaned the internal components and condensate trap, removing the build-up that had accumulated over time. During another boiler service, a significant amount of magnetite, or heating sludge, was collected from a filter and cleaned out to help keep the system in better condition.
Elsewhere, the team tackled a build-up of scale caused by a small leak at a cylinder connection, showing how even a minor weep can leave deposits behind over time.
Plumbing Problems, Sorted! 🛠️
Alongside our heating work, we have also been busy resolving plumbing issues for our customers. When a radiator fell off the wall and damaged the pipework, our engineers drained the system, replaced the damaged section, refilled and vented it, then tested everything to get the building back up and running.
We also attended a leaking bathroom tap, with apprentice Lily joining engineer Korben to help carry out the repair. From small leaks to more disruptive faults, getting these issues sorted helps keep properties working as they should.
Learning on the Job 👨🔧
Our apprentices have continued to gain valuable experience alongside our experienced engineers throughout October. Archie joined Steve for a boiler service and flue gas analysis, while Lily worked with Korben on a leaking tap repair.
George also had the opportunity to work alongside Kellan on electrical fault-finding and wiring within a heating system control unit. Together, they checked the internal components and connections, giving George valuable hands-on experience with the electrical side of heating systems.
It’s great to see our apprentices continuing to build their skills, learn from the team and gain confidence across different types of jobs.
A New Chapter for PGS: Welcome, Martin! 👋
October marked an exciting step forward for PGS as we welcomed Martin to the team as our new Operations Director.
Martin will work closely with the team to support our day-to-day operations, help keep everything running smoothly and ensure we continue delivering the best possible service to our customers. As PGS continues to grow, his role will be important in supporting the team, strengthening our operations and helping us move forward as a business.
We’re delighted to have Martin on board and look forward to the experience and support he will bring to the PGS team.
Getting Ready for Winter
As we head further into the colder months, our focus remains on keeping our customers’ heating and hot water systems safe, reliable and ready for increased use. From routine servicing to more complex breakdowns, October has been a reminder of the value of looking after heating systems before problems develop.
A huge thank you to our customers for their continued support and to the whole PGS team for their hard work throughout another busy month. With Martin settling into his new role and our apprentices continuing to learn and develop, there’s plenty to look forward to as we head into November!