Winter is the prime time for people to experience boiler breakdowns.
This isn’t so much hearsay, but a common issue many people face each winter — recent reports suggest this figure is as high as 2.5 million people, with Yorkshire experiencing the lowest number of breakdowns, apparently, according to Boiler Guide.
But the thing is, boilers aren’t always the type of appliance you should carry out DIY fixes on. Sure, there are small things you can do to help it along, but for the most part, they need to be checked, serviced, and prepared by professional engineers who know exactly what they’re working with and can conduct any repairs safely and effectively.
But how do you know your boiler needs checking or is in need of TLC?
Strange Noises
Not all boilers are 100% silent at all times, and they will have minor noises that indicate they’re working, heating up, or cooling down, etc. But if you hear anything outside these noises, something is wrong. Excessive banging, gurgling, dripping, or “kettling” sounds are concerning and need further investigation. It might be that there is a limescale build-up on the heat exchanger, trapped air, or fluctuating water pressure causing the noise, but either way, you need to get things checked out.
Pressure Problems
Experiencing pressure problems is a huge concern. Boiler pressure that consistently drops below one bar (too low) or rises to over two bars (too high) delivers unreliable performance, which places strain on the components. You can learn how to check boiler pressure yourself, but it isn’t always an easy fix in some cases, and you do need a professional repair or service to get things back on track.
Pilot Light Problems
This is a more urgent issue, and if you’re having issues with your pilot light, call for help quickly and do not use your boiler. A normal pilot light burns blue. If you see a yellow or orange flame, shut things down, as this is a sign of incomplete combustion and it poses a huge carbon monoxide risk to your home.
If you experience frequent failures of the pilot light to stay lit, it might be a gas supply issue or a fault in components. But in all instances, call an engineer out who can check it out, give you the right answer, and get the correct fix implemented.
Water Leaks
Water around your boiler isn’t normal and needs immediate investigation. If it’s not coming from the boiler, you need to identify where it is coming from and fix it before it causes damage to the boiler and pipes. If it is coming from the boiler, turn the boiler off and book in a repair ASAP. Leaks from the boiler itself, around pipe joints, for example, won’t resolve and will worsen over time.
Uneven Heating
Uneven heating means your system isn’t circulating correctly. It could be fixed by bleeding the radiators, but if not, this is definitely a flow issue.
If you’re frequently bleeding your radiators or you’re experiencing regular uneven heating, you may need your system flushed to clear out any sludge that might have settled in it. But always get a professional to check this first, so you’re not missing something else at play, and you’re not making the issue worse.