There are a number of reasons your boiler may have stopped working, and thankfully there are even more possible fixes! Our boiler engineers are experienced in repairing boiler faults of all types and detail some of the most common issues below.
Boilers have a habit of misbehaving at the worst possible times - right as a cold snap arrives, or just after you have put down the deposit on that dream holiday and are short of cash for the rest of the month.
Before you despair about having to fork out thousands on a new boiler, however, it is well worth doing some simple checks to identify common problems, many of which are relatively common and inexpensive to repair. Here are some of the main ones to look out for.
3 common boiler faults
1. Not enough heat from radiators
The first port of call if your boiler is on and firing but your radiators aren’t getting warm is to check for air in the system. If it is just a case of one or two radiators not getting up to temperature, this is probably something you can resolve yourself simply by bleeding those units affected.
If it is a widespread issue across a whole floor or even the entire house, there may be air in some of the main pipes leading to and from the boiler. Loud banging and groaning noises are another sign that there is air in the system. A boiler engineer will be able to solve this relatively easily.
If you can eliminate trapped air, another cause of radiators not getting as hot as you’d expect is a faulty thermostat. The tell-tale sign here is that your boiler will switch itself on and off unexpectedly as the thermostat fails to monitor and regulate the temperature correctly.
2. The boiler doesn’t fire
The pilot light on your boiler should be on at all times. If your boiler isn’t firing up on heating cycles or for hot water, the first thing to check is whether the pilot light is lit, as without it ignition cannot occur. Common causes of a pilot light going out are a faulty thermocouple which is not letting gas flow properly or a problem with the gas supply itself. If you suspect the latter, contact your gas supplier immediately.
Another reason why your boiler may not be igniting is that the water pressure is too low. Check the pressure gauge - if the pressure is below one, this will explain why your boiler won’t switch on. Some older models of boiler allow you to manually adjust the water pressure via a valve, but always check the manufacturer’s instructions for what the optimum setting should be. It is also a good idea to look for any visible signs of a leak in the system which could be causing the pressure to drop, or you might need to replace the pressure-relief valve.
3. Inconsistent hot water
If water from your taps and shower is sometimes freezing cold one minute and red hot the next, there are a number of things to check. It could be a faulty thermostat again failing to regulate temperatures, or it could be a water pressure problem causing the boiler to flick on and off rapidly. Those aside, damaged or broken components in the system such as valves or airlocks could also be to blame. This would require a boiler engineer to investigate further and replace the necessary parts.
How to fix your boiler
Some faults may be caused by very simple issues which can be fixed yourself at home before you need to call an engineer. For these issues, you may be able to fix them by:
- Bleeding your radiators
- Changing old thermostat batteries
- Resetting your boiler
- Checking temperature dials
- Repressurising your boiler
Fast & reliable boiler repairs
Want a professional boiler engineer to take a look at a fixed price you can trust? Give us a call on 0333 733 5127, let us know what the issue is and we'll send out an engineer on a day that suits you.