Boiler Fix Ideas
It’s that time again! The warmer weather (although unreliable, as ever) is upon us and as a result we don’t need to use our central heating as much – result! However, this can lead to problems later on without a little forethought.
Statistically, your boiler is far more likely to break down during autumn and winter, due to the fact that it has often had minimal (if any) use over the summer. Inconvenient problems can be avoided by scheduling your annual boiler service for around the end of the summer, however breakdowns can still happen.
If a boiler fix is needed, you need to call in a professional. It is highly unsafe to carry out any kind of boiler fix yourself, unless you are a registered gas installer (RGI) – and if you’re a landlord, by attempting a boiler fix, you’re breaking the law. However, there are some troubleshooting methods you can try before calling an engineer – some may solve your problem, and some may just keep you in heating and hot water until an engineer can get to you (which, as the weather begins to cool in a few months, will be a lifesaver.
Boiler fix #1 Check electricity, gas and water supplies
It is surprisingly easy to accidentally switch of the electricity, gas or water supply to your boiler.
To avoid a call out fee (and a red face), check this before you get the professionals in.
Boiler fix #2 Check the timer
If the clocks have gone forward or back, or the clock timer has been adjusted/switched off, it could cause your boiler to fail to come on when it’s supposed to.
Boiler fix #3 Check the pilot light
In older appliances, it is very common for the pilot light to blow out. Check your boiler manual to find out how to relight it.
Boiler fix #4 Reset
Not all boilers have a customer operated reset switch, but a lot of the modern models do. Check your manual to find out whether a reset could solve your problem. You can also try simply switching the electricity supply to the boiler off and on again.
Boiler fix #5 Check the pressure
The pressure gauge on the boiler should be somewhere between 1 and 2 bar. If it drops beneath this, the boiler will be unable to start working. There are a few reasons why the boiler pressure could be dropping, and this should be investigated as soon as possible by an engineer. However, while you’re waiting for someone to attend, you may be able to return heating and hot water to your home by refilling the boiler and increasing the pressure. How you do this depends on your setup – check your boiler manual before attempting this.
To help avoid these problems occuring in the first place, make sure you switch your boiler on at regular intervals throughout the summer in order to keep it ticking over. However, if you experience any issues (or you want your boiler service out of the way in time for summer), we can fix gas boiler problems quickly, reliably and professionally.