In need of boiler maintenance services in the South West? B & R Heating has you covered! Whatever the issue with your boiler, we’ll give you the solution. Ever wondered what the top 4 most common boiler problems are and how can they be fixed? Keep reading to find out!
Hot water but no heating
Your boiler should be supplying you with central heating and hot water throughout your home. If you’re getting hot water, but your radiators aren’t getting warm, this is a problem. A thermostat will help you to control the temperature of your central heating and timings. If your heating isn’t coming on at the specified times, you might want to double-check the settings.
If the pressure of the boiler drops too low, the central heating will fail to work. It’s important to maintain the pressure of your boiler to ensure everything continues to run smoothly. Fortunately, this is an easy fix! You can even do it yourself, check out one of our handy video guides to find out how. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can always call a professional gas engineer to do it for you.
Unfortunately, no heating could be caused by a more complex issue, such as a problem with the diverter valve. Combi boilers supply water on demand, diverting the water to the hot water outlets or central heating system. If this valve gets stuck or damaged, you could be left without hot water or no heating. A registered gas engineer will be able to diagnose and fix this problem for you.
No heat or hot water
It’s a nightmare when you can’t seem to get any hot water, especially if you rely on your boiler for showers. There’s no single issue that could be the cause of your boiler failing to provide hot water, but there are a few things you can look out for.
Most boilers will display an error code, but it could be one of the following:
- Gas isn’t making its way into your property
- Double-check the thermostat settings and set the desired temperature higher than the current room temperature
- The condensate pipe has frozen
- Low boiler pressure (as mentioned above, this is an easy fix!)
- The pilot light is out (more common on older boilers)
Again, a gas engineer will be able to identify and fix the problem for you. Get in touch with a professional about boiler maintenance services.
Boiler is leaking
A leaky boiler is never a good sign. The cause of your leak will depend on where the water is coming from. It’s worth mentioning that you should never attempt to investigate a leaking boiler yourself, always contact a professional gas engineer to do this for you.
An internal component is likely broken if your boiler is leaking. This could be a pump, seal, or pressure valve. Is the leak coming from the pressure valve? This could be a sign that the pressure is too high. A pump seal leak could show that it is worn out and needs to be replaced.
Leaking from the pipes or the tank is a clear sign of corrosion or poor installation. It’s best to get in touch with a Gas Safe plumber to investigate the issue.
Noisy boiler
Boilers tend to make noise while they’re heating water, but it’s important to note when your boiler is making unusual noises. This could be banging, whistling or gurgling. It’s easy to brush off any noises coming from the boiler, but you shouldn’t ignore them as they could be a sign of a serious fault.
The fault varies depending on the noise, here are some examples of unusual noises and what they could mean:
- Whistling. This could be caused by a build-up of sludge on the heat exchanger.
- Banging. This is commonly linked to pipework or an internal component coming loose. It could also be a sign that the pump is close to failing.
- Clanking. Again, this could be loose pipework or a sign that the boiler fan is being obstructed.
- Buzzing. This noise is commonly associated with the electrical components of the boiler malfunctioning. A buzz from the thermostat could be due to the conductor being dirty and needing to be replaced.
- Humming. Most boilers will make a slight humming noise, however, a loud hum could be a sign of a loose component.
- Gurgling. Air in the pipes can lead to a gurgling sound. Are your radiators gurgling? They most likely need to be bled. You can find out how to do this in our helpful video.
Need boiler maintenance services?
Think there might be a problem with your boiler and not sure what to do about it? We can help! Get in touch with us about our boiler maintenance services by giving us a call on 01752 695050 or by visiting our contact page.
