Boilers are essential for home comfort, but they can encounter common boiler faults that affect performance. Boilers may face problems like no heating or hot water, water leaks, and low pressure. In this blog, we’ll cover these common faults, their causes, and practical solutions to keep your systems running smoothly all year round, avoid costly repairs and maintain a comfortable home.
No heating or hot water can be caused by a faulty thermostat or programmer, low pressure and over heat lock out. This is a very common boiler fault, and to resolve these problems, check and adjust the thermostat settings, or replace the batteries if it is a wireless model. If low pressure is the issue, re-pressurise the boiler according to the manufacturer's instructions, and if needed, contact a professional to install repairs.
Water leakage in a boiler is often caused by broken internal components such as a pressure valve, where the pressure is too high and causes the valve to break, or a pump seal. To resolve this, identify where the leak is coming from and then contact a professional to complete the repairs. Learn more about our emergency repairs service.
Low boiler pressure can be caused by a water leak, faulty sensor or bleeding radiators. To fix this common boiler fault, inspect the boiler for leaks and if a leak is found contact an engineer. If the issue is due to a faulty sensor, replace it as needed.
If the boiler is cutting out, common issues include low pressure and circulation issues. To resolve this, first check the pressure gauge; if the needle is below 1, re-pressurise the boiler. If the pressure is fine, the issue may be trapped air, which can be solved by bleeding the radiators. If the problem persists, it could indicate a pump issue, requiring a professional engineer to address it.
While it is normal for boilers to emit a low hum, unusual noises such as whistling and gurgling may indicate an issue. Whistling is often caused by trapped air in the system and can be resolved by bleeding the radiators. Gurgling may result from a frozen pipe disturbing water flow, in which case an engineer should be called to address the problem.
If your radiators are not heating up, this may be caused by trapped air, a build up of sludge inside radiators, or a thermostatic valve that is not opening. To resolve this common boiler fault, start by bleeding all the radiators to remove any trapped air. If the problem continues, the system may need to be flushed to remove sludge, which requires the help of an engineer. If the radiator valve is sticking, contact an engineer to fix or replace it.
If the hot water is not working but heating is, or vice versa, the issue may be due to a stuck diverter valve caused by a build up of sludge and debris, or a sticking diverter valve motor. Sludge on the heating side typically results in warm water but no heating, while sludge on the hot water side causes heating to work, but no hot water. To resolve this issue, contact a professional engineer for repairs and system cleaning.
To help identify your boiler issue, we’ve put together a list of the different type of boilers, and their error codes with the issue they represent:
Understanding the common faults in boilers can help you keep your home comfortable year round. Issues like no heating, low pressure, cutting out, and water leakage are all fixable with the right approach, whether it's simple troubleshooting or calling a professional.
Regular maintenance is key to preventing major problems and ensuring your boiler runs smoothly when you need them most. By staying on top of these common issues, you can save time, money, and stress, while keeping your heating systems in top condition. Learn more about our boiler services, or get in touch with us if you have a query.
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