Boiler Breakdown? Easy Checks to Get Your Heating Back On in a Hurry
My boiler isn’t working! What can I do? We all know that sinking feeling when your boiler stops working. Suddenly being without heating and hot water is a major worry, and if you’ve got a household to keep warm, it can feel really stressful. The good news is, before you pick up the phone to a heating engineer, there’s a chance you can sort it out yourself with a few easy checks. This is your guide to those checks!
Simply Plumbing has been dealing with boiler breakdowns for over a decade. So, we know how you can try to get it going again yourself. And if that doesn’t work, we’re just a call away, in South Bedfordshire, and we provide fast, friendly, and professional boiler repair services right here in your area.
When a Broken Boiler Requires Urgent Help
A boiler that stops working is more urgent when the household has no alternative heating or hot water, outside temperatures are low or vulnerable occupants are affected. Before arranging a repair, you can check the thermostat settings, power supply and visible boiler pressure without opening the appliance. Record any error code because it may help the engineer understand the fault.
Do not repeatedly reset the boiler if it immediately shuts down again. Repeated lockouts indicate that the system has detected a problem, and overriding them will not correct the underlying cause. Water around the appliance, unusual smells or electrical damage should also be treated seriously.
Simply Plumbing is a local boiler repair company serving Harpenden and surrounding communities. When calling, describe the symptoms, boiler make and whether heating, hot water or both have been lost. This helps determine the appropriate response.
3 Simple Checks to Rule Out Basic Issues
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the easiest to miss when you’re worried! So, before you assume the worst, let’s just check a few really basic things.
First, if you’re on a prepayment gas meter, just double-check you’ve got credit. It’s a common reason for boilers to stop working, and it’s easily fixed.
Second, have a quick look at your other gas appliances in the house. Are they working? If your gas hob or gas fire is also not working, it might mean a gas supply problem, rather than a fault with the boiler itself.
Lastly, think back – have you had a power cut recently? Even a short outage can sometimes mess with your boiler’s timer settings. A quick way to check this is to look whether the right time is showing on your boiler’s digital display.
Check Your Boiler Pressure: Is it Too Low?
If all your basic checks are ok, the next thing to do is to check your boiler’s pressure. It’s a simple check to perform:
Here’s how to check your boiler pressure:
- Find the pressure gauge – It’s usually a small circular dial, often on the front of the boiler unit.
- Take a pressure reading – Look at the gauge. It will have a needle and pressure readings marked in ‘bars’ (sometimes also PSI). Note where the needle is pointing.
- Ideal pressure zone – The pointer should ideally be within the green zone, typically between 1 and 2 bars. Some gauges have a clear green section marked.
- Low pressure indication – If the needle is below 1 bar, or pointing to a red zone, your boiler pressure is too low.
- Top up with water – Low pressure can stop your boiler from working. Topping up with water could solve the problem.
- Find your manual: The process for repressurising varies. Your boiler manual is the best guide. Search online for “[your boiler make and model] manual” if you don’t have it.
Maybe It’s The Thermostat? How to Check
Perhaps the problem isn’t the boiler – sometimes the problem is the thermostat! A faulty or incorrectly set thermostat can stop your boiler from firing up, even if the boiler itself is fine. It’s certainly worth a quick check.
Here’s how to check your thermostat:
- Find your thermostat – It’s usually on a wall in your hallway or living room.
- Check the display – Is it lit up? If you have a battery-operated operated thermostat, check for a low battery indicator or simply replace the batteries to test.
- Increase the set temperature – Turn up the thermostat to a degree or two above the temperature the room is currently at.
- Listen for the click – You should hear a faint click from the thermostat as it signals the boiler to turn on. If you hear this, wait a couple of minutes to see if your boiler starts up.
- Check the boiler – Go back to your boiler and listen and look for signs of it starting – lights, noises, or warmth from the pipes.
- Check thermostat settings – If you’re able to programme your thermostat, double-check the settings – is it set to ‘off’ or on a very low temperature for a timed period? It may be that you’ve accidentally overridden your settings.
Time For a Reset
If you’re still having trouble, try a reset. This will solve any temporary issues and get your boiler back online. Look for the reset button on your boiler – it’s usually quite prominent and labelled ‘Reset’. Press and hold this button for a few seconds to initiate a reset. Give your boiler a few minutes to restart and see if it springs back into life.
If that doesn’t do the trick, look on your display screen for any error messages or codes. These can help you to work out what the problem is. You’ll need your boiler manual is key to translate codes. You’ll either have a hard copy, or you can find a copy online by searching for your boiler make and model fault codes.
FAQs – Repair or Replace Your Boiler?
It can be hard to know when to stop repairing an old boiler and get a new one. These FAQs cover the major signs that a boiler replacement is the more cost-effective option for your home.
Age is really important and shouldn’t be ignored. Boilers are designed to last 10-15 years and if your boiler is in or over this age bracket, it’s more likely to break down, and it will be less energy-efficient than a new system.
If the cost of a single repair is 50% or more of the cost of a brand-new boiler installation, it’s going to be more economical to replace it. A new boiler will be more reliable, more efficient, and it will come with a manufacturer’s warranty.
An unexplained increase in your energy bills is a sign that your boiler is on its last legs. As components wear out, the boiler has to work harder and burn more fuel to produce the same amount of heat. This inefficiency means you are paying more for less, and a new, A-rated boiler would certainly lead to savings on your bill.
When it’s Time to Call in The Heating Pros
If you’ve run through these checks and your boiler is still refusing to work, then you’ll need to call in a boiler engineer. Boilers are tricky pieces of equipment, and once you’ve run through the above checks, you need specialist knowledge and tools to diagnose and fix safely. Trying to tackle more complex repairs yourself can be risky and potentially invalidate your warranty.
That’s where Simply Plumbing comes in. As South Bedfordshire’s trusted plumbing and heating experts for over a decade, we’ve seen every boiler issue imaginable. Our Gas Safe registered engineers are highly experienced in diagnosing and repairing all types of boiler problems, quickly and efficiently.
We know from experience how stressful boiler breakdowns can be, which is why we offer a prompt, reliable service and friendly, professional approach. We’re local, we’re established, and we’re here to get your heating back on.
Ready to get your heating sorted? Don’t suffer in the cold. Call Simply Plumbing today for a fast, reliable boiler repair quote! – 01582 250030 or visit our website.
