There is never a good time to suffer boiler problems. Being without central heating in winter and hot water at any time of year is a real inconvenience, with family members wanting to wash, shower and do the washing up without interruption to their daily routine.

Often, these boiler problems are easy to fix by yourself, but there are also a host of issues that should be left to the professionals. If you are ever in doubt about the severity of your boiler problems, call our breakdown service on 0330 055 2210 and we will send out a Gas Safe registered engineer to diagnose the issue and fix it. You cannot be too careful when it comes to gas appliances.

Here are the ten most common boiler problems, as well as our recommendations on what your next course of action should be.

1. Leaking and Dripping from the Boiler

There are a few different reasons that you might find leaking and dripping from your boiler. In virtually all scenarios, you should call a gas expert to deal with the problem. However, there are exceptions.

If the boiler is leaking near the pressure relief valve, it could be that the boiler pressure is too high. You can check this on the gauge, with anything above the safe zone that is marked on the display indicating that your pressure is too high. Steps you can take to help solve these boiler problems include checking that the filling loop is completely shut off. You could also bleed the radiators. If neither of these potential remedies work, call an expert in.

Other reasons for leaking and dripping from the boiler include a broken pump seal, corrosion on the pipework, or even that the the system wasn’t installed correctly. In these cases, you need to enlist a professional to assess your boiler and to fix it.

2. Boiler Not Producing Heat or Hot Water

Your boiler not producing heat or hot water could also be a pressure issue. Your boiler pressure may be too low, in which case you can try adding more water using the filling loop. In addition, your thermostat may not be working properly. You can test this by manually overriding the central heating on the boiler itself.

However, there are a number of other boiler problems that could lead to a lack of heat and hot water. Broken valves or airlocks, or the motorised valves failing are all boiler issues that require a professional to replace the part on your behalf.

3. Problems With Low Boiler Pressure

If you find that low boiler pressure problems persist, and that the gauge is constantly showing pressure below 1 bar, there could be something else wrong with the unit.You may have recently bled your radiators and the pressure was lost in this way. If this is the case, re-pressurise the system using the filling loop.

Alternatively, it may be that there is a leak in your central heating system. This requires professional help in order to rectify. It could also be that your pressure relief valve is worn and needs replacing.

4. Problems With Your Thermostat

Your thermostat dictates when your central heating needs to come on, based on either the specific time of day or when the room temperature drops to a certain level. If you find that this is not working, there are some checks you can make before you replace your thermostat.

Make sure that the settings are as you wish them to be. It could be that someone else in the house has changed them or that they were adjusted by accident as someone brushed past the thermostat.

It might also be that the ambient temperature is already at the level you have set for the thermostat, so it doesn’t need to come on. Test this by adjusting the set temperature up in small leaps to see if the boiler kicks in. If it does, it may be that your home is warmer than you expected.

If you are still having thermostat boiler problems, you may need a repair or placement.

5. Radiators Don’t Get Warm

If your radiators don’t get warm, it may be that there is a buildup of air in them and they need bleeding. You might notice that only part of the radiator gets warm when the central heating kicks in. This is solved by bleeding, which is relatively easy to do at home, providing you have a radiator key or, in some circumstances, a screwdriver.In some circumstances, some radiators get warm and others don’t. The remedy for this is called balancing radiators, which you complete by adjusting the valves to allow each to receive the necessary hot water to provide heat.

If these remedies don’t work, the next step is to book in a chemical flush for your system, which must be performed by an experienced professional. Call Clever Energy Boilers on 0330 055 2210 to book this in.

6. Kettling in the Boiler

Kettling involves the water in your boiler overheating and starting to boil and steam like a kettle. This can be caused by limescale buildup on the heat exchanger and is most often found in areas with hard water, in much the same way as those in the same areas will often find limescale more frequently inside their kettles.

One of the symptoms of kettling in the boiler is a bubbling sound caused by the boiling. To solve the issue, a chemical flush is in order, as leaving it could shorten the effective life of your boiler due to the excess stress placed upon it.

7. Other Noises Coming From the Boiler

Noises other than the bubbling of kettling can be caused by a number of boiler problems. If you hear a banging, it might be that the pump is about to break down. Other strange noises are a result of too much air in the system, low boiler pressure or other issues. A gas expert will be able to help you further.

8.Boiler Pilot Light Goes Out

One of the major boiler problems is the pilot light going out. This could be an issue with the mains gas coming into the home, and you should check that gas is reaching the boiler as well as your other gas appliances. If you find that there is no gas coming into the home, you should phone your supplier or the Gas Emergency Services on 0800 111 999.  

If the supply is working, then follow the instructions in your user manual to relight the pilot light. If it still does not come on, or it ignites and then goes out again, it could be that there is a draught, some kind of buildup in the light or a broken thermocouple. To solve these issues, please call a professional.

9. Condensate Pipe is Frozen

The condensate pipe takes away the waste water from the boiler and usually runs outside of the home and into the drain. When the weather turns cold in winter, the pipe can be exposed and freezes, preventing the water from running away. 

If this happens, the boiler may stop working and an error message could appear on the display. It is possible to help thaw the pipe out by using a hair dryer, warm to hot water (not boiling), a hot water bottle or similar method.

10.Boiler Keeps Turning Off

It could be that your boiler keeps turning off. In this case, it might be that water can’t work its way round the system like it should. It might also be a low pressure issue, a leak on the system, a problem with the thermostat, a closed valve or a number of other boiler problems. You can call our boiler breakdown team at any time 24/7 on 0330 055 2210.

Get Boiler Cover

To protect yourself against common boiler problems and breakdowns, take a look at our Clever Care packages. Depending on the level of boiler cover you choose, we could come out and fix your boiler at no extra cost to you. If needed, we can also provide a replacement boiler on many of our plans, with no excess to pay.