Common problems with boilers

Let’s face it – there’s never a good time for your boiler to break, which is why it’s always a good idea to get it checked at least once a year. Sadly, even if you do this, problems can still occur. Here are just a few of the most common boiler problems:

Weird noises – Maybe you hear banging, gurgling, or whistling from time to time? This could be for a number of reasons. There might be air in the system, the water pressure might be too low, or it could be kettling.

Pressure loss – This can occur for a number of reasons… perhaps you’ve recently bled your radiators, there may be a water leak, or your pressure relief valve may need replacing. You can check the pressure level by looking at the built in gauge. If it’s below 1, you might have a problem.

Boiler turns itself off – If you find your boiler keeps turning itself off, you could have low water pressure, a problem with the thermostat, circulation problems, or a lack of water.

Pilot light goes out – Noticed your pilot light keeps going out and not sure why? It could be an issue with gas supply, a deposit may have built up, or there could simply have been a bit of a breeze. You can try relighting it yourself – make sure you follow the instructions in your boilers manual.

Leaks/dripping – In order to fix the leak, you need to know where it’s coming from. Leaks can happen for a number of reasons… pressure could be too high, a component may have been worn out over time, or something could have broken. If you spot a leak, never try and fix it yourself.

Lukewarm radiators – Have you found your radiators aren’t heating evenly – or at all? You’ll be pleased to know you can usually fix both of these things yourself. If it’s not heating evenly, you might want to try bleeding your radiator. If certain radiators aren’t getting hot, they might need balancing (adjusting the valves on all of them).

No heating/hot water – There are a number of reasons this may be happening. The first thing to do is check there’s not an issue with your boiler pressure or thermostat. It could be that a part has broken and needs to be replaced.

Kettling – If you don’t know what kettling is, you’re not alone. Ever heard your boiler make a noise that closely resembles a kettle boiling? That’s a sign of kettling. It’s where limescale or sludge builds up on your heat exchanger.

Problems with your thermostat – Finding your thermostat isn’t as accurate as it once was? It could need a replacement but, before you arrange that, it’s worth just double-checking the time and schedule. If it’s set correctly and still not working, a replacement is your best bet.

Condensate pipe’s frozen – When the weather gets really cold, the condensate pipe can freeze over, causing a blockage. Typically, your boiler will have a fault code or warning notification, so you’ll be able to see if this has happened.

Whilst some of these issues can be dealt with without the need for an engineer, not all of them can. If you think there’s a problem with your boiler and don’t know how to fix it, it’s always better to call one of our engineers out.