NO HOT WATER, NO PROBLEM
Uh oh, is your house suddenly cold? Or maybe you’ve got a combi boiler with no hot water for your shower? Boiler problems are super annoying, but knowing a bit about them can help you figure out what’s going on.
Sometimes you can fix little things yourself, but for anything big, you’ll need a Gas Safe engineer – they’re like boiler superheroes!
Here are the top 10 things that often go wrong with boilers:
1. No Heat or Hot Water (That annoying “Combi No Hot Water” problem!)
This is probably the worst! If your heating’s off and your water‘s cold, especially with a combi boiler, check a few things:
- Low Pressure: Look at your boiler’s little dial. It should usually be between 1 and 1.5. If it’s too low, you might be able to top it up yourself using your boiler’s instructions.
- Thermostat Trouble: Is your heat turned up high enough? Do your wireless thermostat batteries need changing? Easy fix!
- Stuck Switch (Combi Boilers): If your combi gives you no hot water but the heating still works, a part called a “diverter valve” might be stuck. This needs a grown-up Gas Safe engineer to fix.
- Pilot Light Out: Older boilers have a tiny flame called a pilot light. If it’s gone out, the boiler won’t start. Your boiler manual will show you how to safely relight it.
2. Boiler Always Losing Pressure
If you keep having to top up your boiler’s pressure, it probably means there’s a small leak somewhere – maybe in the boiler itself, or in a pipe or radiator. Don’t ignore leaks! You’ll need a Gas Safe engineer to find and fix it.
3. Weird Noises (Like Banging or Gurgling)
Your boiler shouldn’t sound like a monster!
- “Kettling” (Whistling): This often sounds like a boiling kettle. It means there’s too much gunk inside the boiler, making it work harder.
- Gurgling: Could be air trapped inside the system, or a frozen pipe outside (see next point!).
- Banging: Again, could be air, or something more serious inside the boiler.
4. Frozen Pipe Outside (Condensate Pipe)
When it’s super cold, a plastic pipe that sticks out from your boiler can freeze. This stops your boiler from working safely. You can often carefully pour warm (not boiling!) water over it to thaw it out. Your boiler might show a special error code.
5. Boiler Keeps Turning Off (Locking Out)
Newer boilers are super smart and will turn themselves off if something’s wrong – it’s a safety thing! It might be low pressure, a blocked pipe, or something else. Your boiler will usually show a special code to tell you what’s wrong.
6. Water Leaking
If you see any drips or puddles coming from your boiler or its pipes, that’s a big problem! It could be a broken seal or a rusty pipe. Leaks can cause damage, so call a professional right away.
7. Radiators Cold (or Only Half Hot)
If the top of your radiators are cold, they probably have air trapped inside and need to be “bled.” If they’re cold at the bottom, it could mean dirty sludge has built up, which a special clean called a “powerflush” can fix.
8. Pilot Light Always Going Out
If that little pilot flame keeps going out, a tiny sensor called a “thermocouple” might be broken. A Gas Safe engineer will need to fix this.
9. Boiler Not Listening to the Thermostat
If your boiler turns on when it shouldn’t, or doesn’t turn on when it should, your thermostat might be broken or its wires are messed up.
10. Strange Smells
- Burning Smell: Might just be dust burning off, but if it keeps going or smells really strong, it could be something overheating.
- Rotten Eggs Smell: THIS IS VERY SERIOUS! It means there could be a gas leak. If you smell this, turn off your gas main if you know how, open all windows, get everyone out of the house, and call the gas emergency number (0800 111 999) AND a Gas Safe engineer straight away!
When to Call a Gas Safe Engineer in Stoke-on-Trent (or if you need a “gas engineer near me”)
For most boiler problems, especially anything to do with gas, you MUST call a Gas Safe registered engineer. Never try to open your boiler or mess with gas pipes yourself – it’s very dangerous.
We’re GMC Heating and Plumbing Ltd, your local Gas Safe experts right here in Stoke-on-Trent and nearby areas like Staffordshire and Cheshire. If you’re searching for a “gas engineer near me” that you can trust, we’ve been fixing boilers for over 15 years, so we know what we’re doing!
Don’t let a broken boiler leave you shivering. Give GMC Heating and Plumbing Ltd a call today to get your heat back on!
