Most Common Boiler Problems
What are the most common boiler problems, and what can we do to repair them? It’s too easy to throw our hands in the air and think that we simply can’t deal with boiler issues and if it breaks down we’ll need to purchase a new one, but it doesn’t have to be like that.
If you know what you’re looking for and it’s a small job, then you can attempt it yourself if you’re feeling confident enough, or you can call one of us, a professional gas registered plumber with the experience and knowledge to know what they’re doing when it comes to boiler repairs.
What kind of problems are you likely to encounter with your boiler?
The most common problems are:
No heating coming from your radiators but hot water is working
No water and no heat
Leaking boiler
Kettling in the boiler
Noisy boiler
Low pressure.
No heating - is your thermostat working as it should? Check this first, then if the boiler pressure is high enough too, it could be down to a fault that requires a professional to repair it.
If it’s not down to the pressure or the thermostat, then it could be one of several things such as e.g. an airlock, a motorised valve that’s failed or a broken diaphragm. Combi boilers can have problems with diverter valves so this could be the problem behind your lack of heat or water.
No water/no heat - there should be an error code and if you spot it, make a note of it for your plumber should you have to call one out. Potential problems could be that the thermostat isn’t working properly, the fuel isn't travelling into the property as it should, the pipes have frozen or the boiler pressure has gone too low.
Leaking boiler - This is one common problem you should never attempt to repair yourself. Call a Gas Safe registered engineer, we are all gas registered and we can all repair your boiler for you safely, all you have to do is give us a call. There are many reasons why your boiler might start leaking, from a broken pressure valve to a broken pump seal. Don’t try to repair it yourself because this is dangerous.
Kettling - This is usually due to a build up of sludge or lime scale on the heat exchanger. This is a coil that transfers the heat from the fuel to the water - this journey can be when you start to collect debris and kettling occurs.
Noisy boiler - boilers can make some strange noises sometimes from whistling and banging to clanking and buzzing, to humming and gurgling. Causes could be anything from a loose part to dirty conductors or debris build up in the heat exchanger. Call out a qualified plumber who can take a look for you.
Low pressure - There should be a pressure gauge that will show you the pressure is too low. It should normally be between 1 and 2, if it goes below it will prevent the heating and the hot water from working. You can put the pressure up yourself on some boilers, but check the manufacturers handbook for your boiler before attempting anything. Call an engineer if you don’t feel confident changing the pressure on your boiler, never attempt anything if you lack confidence.
Bryan Morris Plumbing & Heating - Boiler Repair Experts
We’ve looked at the most common boiler problems you’re likely to encounter in your home. We hope you feel more confident in identifying these problems so you can explain to your plumber what the problem is confidently, or if you don’t have a plumber and you’ve identified an issue with your boiler, why not contact us? We’re all here to help and we have a friendly, qualified, gas registered team of heating engineers eager to help with your boiler repairs.