With the weather being so unpredictable in Swindon and Wiltshire, keeping your home warm and toasty is a must. But a boiler breakdown can throw everything into disarray. While most issues require professional attention from Gas Safe Engineers such as ourselves there are some common boiler problems can be addressed by DIY-savvy homeowners. This month we look at some of the most common problems and their potential fixes:
Low water pressure:
Symptoms: Radiators feel cold at the top, hissing noises from the boiler.
DIY fix: Locate the boiler's pressure gauge (usually a red dial) and check if it's within the recommended range (around 1.5-2 bar). If it's low, carefully open the filling loop valve (usually a blue lever) until the pressure reaches the correct level. Close the valve and turn off the boiler for a few minutes, then turn it back on. If the pressure drops again, there could be a leak. This is not something you want to attempt to look at and most definitely a job from someone like ourselves.
Pilot light issues:
Symptoms: No heating or hot water, the boiler will not ignite.
DIY fix: Check if the pilot light is on (usually a small blue flame). If it's out, consult your boiler manual for specific instructions on relighting it. This usually involves pushing an ignition button while holding down a control knob. If the pilot light won't stay lit or you're unsure about the process, then there is something more serious afoot. Again, this is where Gas Safe Engineers are required.
Noisy boiler:
Symptoms: Banging, whirring, or whistling sounds coming from the boiler.
DIY fix: This could be something as simple as trapped air in the systems. You can try bleeding the radiators (Always consult your manual for instructions) to release the air. If the noise persists, there could be a more serious issue like a faulty pump or expansion vessel. Fortunately, this does not mean new a new boiler is required, Over the past 20+ years MPS Heating have helped clients by repairing lots of boilers for these faults
Frozen condensate pipe:
Symptoms: No heating or hot water, boiler displays an error message about a condensate fault.
DIY fix: This is quite common when the weather reaches subzero temperatures. Locate the condensate pipe (usually a thin plastic pipe leading outside) and check if it is frozen solid. If it is, it needs to be thawed out. You can do this with a cloth or even a hairdryer (avoid naked flames!). Once thawed, the boiler should resume normal operation.
Always remember
When it comes to boilers and gas, safety is paramount. Always follow the manufacturer’s instruction manual & only attempt any of the above fixes if you are confident and comfortable doing so.
If you are unsure about the problem, the issue seems complex, or the DIY fix does not work, always err on the side of caution and call Gas Safe registered engineer such as ourselves. We are experienced in tackling and resolving all these types of issues and can diagnose the problem accurately and get you heating back up and running ASAP.
We hope this information helps! And remember if you live in the Swindon or the surrounding areas, MPS Heating can help you with any of the above issues as well as standard boiler services and Boiler replacement. .
Symptoms: Radiators feel cold at the top, hissing noises from the boiler.
DIY fix: Locate the boiler's pressure gauge (usually a red dial) and check if it's within the recommended range (around 1.5-2 bar). If it's low, carefully open the filling loop valve (usually a blue lever) until the pressure reaches the correct level. Close the valve and turn off the boiler for a few minutes, then turn it back on. If the pressure drops again, there could be a leak. This is not something you want to attempt to look at and most definitely a job from someone like ourselves.
Pilot light issues:
Symptoms: No heating or hot water, the boiler will not ignite.
DIY fix: Check if the pilot light is on (usually a small blue flame). If it's out, consult your boiler manual for specific instructions on relighting it. This usually involves pushing an ignition button while holding down a control knob. If the pilot light won't stay lit or you're unsure about the process, then there is something more serious afoot. Again, this is where Gas Safe Engineers are required.
Noisy boiler:
Symptoms: Banging, whirring, or whistling sounds coming from the boiler.
DIY fix: This could be something as simple as trapped air in the systems. You can try bleeding the radiators (Always consult your manual for instructions) to release the air. If the noise persists, there could be a more serious issue like a faulty pump or expansion vessel. Fortunately, this does not mean new a new boiler is required, Over the past 20+ years MPS Heating have helped clients by repairing lots of boilers for these faults
Frozen condensate pipe:
Symptoms: No heating or hot water, boiler displays an error message about a condensate fault.
DIY fix: This is quite common when the weather reaches subzero temperatures. Locate the condensate pipe (usually a thin plastic pipe leading outside) and check if it is frozen solid. If it is, it needs to be thawed out. You can do this with a cloth or even a hairdryer (avoid naked flames!). Once thawed, the boiler should resume normal operation.
Always remember
When it comes to boilers and gas, safety is paramount. Always follow the manufacturer’s instruction manual & only attempt any of the above fixes if you are confident and comfortable doing so.
If you are unsure about the problem, the issue seems complex, or the DIY fix does not work, always err on the side of caution and call Gas Safe registered engineer such as ourselves. We are experienced in tackling and resolving all these types of issues and can diagnose the problem accurately and get you heating back up and running ASAP.
We hope this information helps! And remember if you live in the Swindon or the surrounding areas, MPS Heating can help you with any of the above issues as well as standard boiler services and Boiler replacement. .