Boilers are essential for heating homes and providing hot water. They’re especially important in winter, but like any appliance, they can be susceptible to breakdowns. Especially if they’ve not been properly maintained.
Understanding the common causes of breakdowns can help you prevent costly repairs, ensuring your boiler is always working when you need it to. In this article, we’ll talk through some common causes of boiler breakdowns.
Low Water Pressure
One of the most common causes of boiler breakdown is low water pressure. Boilers need the perfect amount of pressure to circulate water through the system. If the pressure is too low, the boiler won’t be able to heat the home. It might even shut down as a safety precaution.
Causes of Low Pressure in Boiler
- Leaks in the system
- The radiators are being bled too often
- Faulty pressure valves
You can check your boiler by looking at the gauge on the front. Most boilers should be between 1-1.5 bar. If yours is too low you might be able to pressurise the system yourself. Otherwise, you’ll have to call a professional.
Thermostat Issues
A faulty thermostat can cause a range of issues, for example, the boiler not heating to the correct temperature or the boiler turning off and on at random times. This could be because the thermostat is outdated, the settings are wrong or there is a calibration issue. Signs of thermostat issues include:
- Inconsistent heating throughout the house
- The boiler turns on and off erratically
- Display issues or failure to respond to adjustments
If your thermostat is faulty this is a relatively simple fix. Replacing it with a modern, programmable version should fix your issues.
Pilot Going Out
Pilot lights can cause significant boiler troubles. If the pilot light keeps going out the boiler won’t be able to provide heating or hot water. There are a few reasons the pilot light might go out, it could be because of a faulty thermocouple, draughts blowing it out or gas supply issues.
If your pilot light goes out, we do not advise trying to light it yourself. It’s much safer to call a professional gas engineer, especially if you think there might be an issue with your gas supply.
Calling a Professional
No matter what’s caused your boiler breakdown, our team of gas safe registered engineers can help. We can work on domestic, commercial and industrial boilers, offering reliable and reasonable repairs. Get in touch to arrange a quote.