Low Boiler Pressure : Everything You Need To Know

Do you have low boiler pressure? Our boiler experts are here to offer advice on how to get your boiler in perfect working order again in no time.

When it comes to gas boilers, erring on the side of caution is definitely a virtue. Given the well-publicised risks associated with carbon monoxide, gas leaks and so on, many people take any sign of a problem with their boiler very seriously.

It is a testament to the success of the public health information campaigns around these issues that people are so well-informed about them. It is certainly much, much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your boiler.

So what if your central heating system is showing signs of low pressure? Should you drop everything and call out an emergency engineer asap?

The good news is that low pressure is not only one of the most common boiler faults, it is also very unlikely to cause any danger to you or your family. It is certainly something you will want to put right, but it’s not an issue you need to panic about.

Checking the pressure

First of all, what are the signs that your system might not be getting up to the required water pressure? It is actually a very easy problem to diagnose. If your radiators are slowly warming up, or your hot water taps are only getting lukewarm, the system pressure is the first thing to check. If you have a combi boiler, you may have a pressure gauge on the front for this very purpose - a round dial with zones marked in different colours.

In a properly functioning, healthy system, the needle should be pointing somewhere in the green zone. If it is not reaching this part of the dial, the pressure is too low for the boiler to heat up water efficiently. If it drops below a certain level, the boiler won’t fire at all, leaving you without hot water and heating

Again, this is nothing to get too worried about. The biggest risk, apart from having no hot water or heating at all in the worst cases, is to your wallet. A boiler running at below optimum pressure will be burning through a lot of fuel without getting water as hot as you would like, as quickly as you would like. Over time, that can become expensive.

Fixing the pressure 

So what do you do about low pressure? Unlike most boiler faults, this is actually something you can have a go at fixing yourself in the first instance, depending on the type of boiler you have. Consult your manual to see if your boiler has an external pressure valve. If it does, it may be just a case of turning this to allow more water into the system. As you gradually turn it, keep an eye on the pressure gauge. The needle should start to move as you open the valve. Stop when it reaches the green part of the dial.

If your boiler does not have an external valve, you will need to call an engineer to reset the pressure for you. Do not under any circumstances start to take your boiler apart looking for a pressure regulator yourself - make a mistake and you could put yourself and your family in serious danger.

Fast reliable boiler repairs 

If you do manage to reset the pressure but it keeps dropping repeatedly, you should also call someone out to take a look. Get a quote for your boiler make and model from a local engineer through Go Assist today, and see if you are eligible for our fixed price call out and repair guarantee.