It’s never a nice thing to discover that you have boiler problems. They can cause anything from a minor inconvenience, to major upheaval, especially when you and your family are relying on the boiler for heating and hot water during the winter months. In addition to the inconvenience, boilers can be costly to repair – particularly if the problem is left to get worse.
In this blog we look at the ten most common boiler problems and whether you might be able to fix the problem yourself, or whether it’s important that a Gas Safe registered boiler engineer becomes involved.
In our many years of boiler repair, we have found that the ten most common boiler problems include the following:
- Boiler leaks
- Low boiler pressure
- Boiler making unusual noises
- Boiler is kettling
- Radiators are cold
- Thermostat issues
- Frozen condensate pipe
- Loss of heating and hot water
- Pilot light keeps going out
- Boiler keeps switching off
Is it time to call in the experts?
Gas appliances can be particularly dangerous, especially when in the wrong hands. Whatever the issue, it’s important that you know when to call an expert and/or whether there is something that you can do to fix the problem.
When your radiators are cold, for example, it could be that they need bleeding – this is something you can do yourself using online tutorials. Likewise, if you have a condensing boiler and your problem is a frozen condensate pipe, there are tutorials on how to fix it. If the boiler is kettling (making a noise like a kettle boiling), however, it could be that the water flow is restricted and you will need a professional to flush the system. This boiler problem is more common in hard water areas.
If your boiler isn’t responding to your thermostat it could be because the settings on the thermostat have been changed, the battery has died or the thermostat has become faulty and you need a replacement. In this case, it’s worth making your own checks, before getting professional help. Whatever the scenario, always make sure you are confident in what you are doing, or speak to an expert who can help and advise.
More in depth examples of how to deal with your common boiler problems and when to call an expert include:
- Boiler Leaks
These are particularly dangerous because they can allow water to get to some of the electrical components in or around the boiler. In addition, prolonged water leakage can cause damage to your home. There could be several reasons for your boiler leaking, from faulty components or seals, to excessive boiler pressure. In any case, a boiler leak should always be assessed by a qualified heating engineer as soon as possible.
- Low boiler pressure
Low boiler pressure can be a reason why you have found yourself with no heating and hot water and it should be the first thing you check. Take a look at the pressure dial on the front of your boiler. When a boiler is cold it should be on around 1.5 bars of pressure. If it is lower than this, then you may be able to fix the problem by repressurising the boiler, which involves opening the filling loop to allow water into the system. Your boiler manufacturer’s guide should show you how to do this. If this doesn’t work, call a heating engineer to help.
- Boiler making strange noises
Gurgling, banging, humming or whooshing noises in your boiler can be caused by anything from trapped air and a faulty pump to high pressure and blockages in the system. In any case, it’s important to get the advice of a Gas Safe registered professional engineer on how to solve the problem.
- Pilot light keeps going out
If your pilot light (the flame inside your boiler) has gone out, it may just mean that it simply needs to be relit. However, if it keeps going out, that suggests a more serious issue. If you cannot reignite the pilot light using the boiler manufacturer’s instructions, or the problem becomes persistent, then speak to a trusted boiler engineer who can help.
- Boiler keeps switching off
If it’s your boiler that keeps switching off, then checking the thermostat, repressurising the system and bleeding the radiators are good first ports of call, but if these fail, then always get boiler expert support. It could be that you need a new boiler part or new boiler installation (which could save you money in the long term).
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If you have found yourself with a boiler problem and you aren’t sure what to do, or need friendly and professional help and advice, then get in touch with a member of our team to discuss the issue, check our availability and get a free quote. We look forward to taking your call.