Heating and boiler problems come in all shapes and sizes. From cold spots on your radiators to temperamental thermostats, or even having no hot water at all. Many problems can be solved without replacing the boiler, and by doing some basic fault finding you might be able to skip on an emergency plumber.
Keep reading for our troubleshooting guide to find out: what the most common central heating problems are, how to diagnose them and what steps you should take before you call a gas safe heating engineer.
I have no hot water
Nobody wants to be left without hot water. But before you call a heating engineer, it’s worth making sure that it’s not just a minor issue that you can solve. Take a look at the list below:
- Is there an issue with the power? Although you may be using a gas boiler to heat your water, elements of the system are still powered by electricity. See if the lights and digital displays are working correctly. If not, it might be caused by a fault with your electric, rather than your boiler.
- Have you turned your boiler off and back on? Sometimes a good old-fashioned reset it all your boiler needs to start working properly. Locate your reset button and try resetting it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. But if the button is inside the boiler’s casing, you’ll need to leave this to a Gas Safe engineer.
- Is your pilot light on? Check your heating system’s pilot light to see if it’s lit. If not, there might not be gas flowing to it. You should also check for a healthy blue flame. If the gas valve is off, that could be the problem.
- Is the thermostat set high enough? Someone in your home may have turned down the thermostat too far, which means the water is no longer heating to an effective temperature.
If you’ve tried all of the above, but still have no luck, try switching the boiler off at the mains for a few seconds, then turning it back on again.
Still no luck? Then it’s time for a Gas Safe heating engineer to take a look.
My boiler pressure keeps dropping
Is your boiler losing pressure? Low boiler pressure is one of the most common reasons behind boiler problems. Over time, your boiler can lose pressure due to leaks and boiler faults, which can cause no hot water or heating.
For boilers to operate efficiently and safely, they need to operate within a certain range (0.7 bar & 2.0 bar). If the pressure occasionally falls below this, it can usually be topped up using a filling valve located on the system. But you shouldn’t need to repressurise your boiler regularly, if you do, you have a problem. Most likely, a leak.
The most common cause when boiler pressure keeps dropping is a leak somewhere on the central heating system. It could be anywhere on the full system. But how can you find a leak? The most common place for a heating system leak is on a radiator valve, so give them all a good check. If you can’t get to the bottom of the problem, or want an expert opinion, then call a heating engineer to take a look.
My radiators are cold at the top or have cold patches
Cold patches appear on radiators when certain areas of the radiators simply aren’t receiving the supply they need to heat up. This means your water is unable to properly flow through your central heating system – often due to air or substances such as dirt.
If the top of your radiator is cold, it might be due to trapped air within the system. Bleeding the radiator is a simple fix that can be done in minutes. Find out how to do that here.
If this doesn’t do the trick, you might need to call a qualified heating engineer to power flush your system.
Radiators that are cold at the bottom could be caused by a build-up of dirt and material which obstructs the flow of water. In this case, you’ll need a powerflush as above.
My boiler is making strange sounds
Noisy central heating systems are common, but it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is causing the issue. The best way to identify the problem is to listen-out for specific sounds:
- Hissing noises: Sometimes, hissing noises are the result of insufficient water supply to the feed and expansion tank. Regular and system boilers usually have a tank. Check to see if there are any obstructions in the system, such as a sludge build-up, or there could also be a problem with a valve or a frozen water supply pipe.
- Banging noises: This is most commonly caused when there is air or debris trapped in your heating system. Try bleeding your radiators, but if the noise continues, hire a plumbing and heating engineer to flush your system remove any dust, rust, sludge or lime scale.
- Creaking noises: Your metal can make creaking, ticking or gurgling noises as they heat up with hot water and expand. When expanding, they rub on other surfaces, like walls and flooring, so it’s worth checking out the pipework to make sure it is secured correctly. We recommend hiring a gas-safe registered engineer to assess the situation.
My boiler keeps breaking down
If you’re experiencing frequent faults and breakdowns with your boiler, it’s usually a cry for help. Either you need to replace faulty parts or it’s time for a boiler upgrade. If your radiators take longer to heat up, your boiler is leaking water, and your system is making strange loud noises, it might be time for a replacement. Take a look at these 5 tell-tale signs you’re ready for a new boiler.
When should I call a heating engineer?
Struggling to understand why your boiler is losing pressure? Or why heating system is so noisy all of a sudden? If you’re experiencing problems with your central heating system, then Firwood Plumbing and Heating is here to help – simply give us a call on 07957 946 914.
We’ve been fixing and replacing and central heating systems for over 20 years, serving happy customers in Bolton, Bury, Chorley and beyond. Our experienced Gas Safe Registered qualified engineer will carry out all your central heating needs, and get to the bottom of those tricky problems.