Help My Boiler Stopped Working

When your boiler stops working you may feel that blood-boiling frustration – sadly the only thing boiling in your house! It can disrupt and mess up your day.

However, not to worry, Warmaway is bringing you a full guide on what to do if your boiler stops working and has broken down.

In this blog, we will take you through some top tips and tricks to troubleshoot your boiler problems. We will walk you through the most common (and sometimes most easily resolved) reasons as to why your boiler might stop working.

Why is my boiler not working?

To work out the right course of action needed to get your boiler up and running again, it helps if you can determine which issue might be causing it to stop working. There are a range of reasons why your boiler might not be working, including:

• Incorrect boiler pressure
• Frozen pipes
• A blockage
• Faulty valves

Many boiler issues have simple solutions, but in some cases, the trouble might need to be solved by a professional. The first thing to check is if your boiler is displaying an error code. In modern boilers, there is often a digital screen that will give you a code corresponding to different errors and issues. You can check your boiler manual or search the code online, along with your boiler make and model, to identify what certain error codes mean.

There are steps you can take to help identify the problem and either solve it or confirm that it’s time to call out the engineers.

Correct pressure for boiler

One of the most common issues that homeowners run into with their boiler is a change in boiler pressure. When the boiler pressure is too low, it means there is not enough water in the boiler system for it to function properly. Vice versa, too high a pressure indicates that the boiler has become overfilled.

How to fix low pressure for boiler

To fix low boiler pressure, start by turning off the boiler and allowing it to cool down, if necessary. For conventional boilers, you should find a valve near the pressure gauge. When you turn this, you should see the pressure on the gauge begin to rise. Allow the boiler to refill until the gauge is between 1 and 1.5. Close the valve to stop the boiler filling.

For combi boilers, the process is much the same, though you might have two valves that need to be opened. After ensuring that all ends of the filling loop are securely in place, you can open the one or two valves you have on your model of boiler and wait for the pressure to rise to the 1-1.5 position on the gauge. Then close the valves one at a time. You will then most likely need to restart your boiler.

How to fix high pressure on boiler

If your boiler pressure is too high, then it is probably time to bleed the radiators. This is a simple process but requires you to have a radiator key. If you don’t have one, these can be acquired for a pound or two from any DIY or hardware store, or online.

Turn off your boiler and wait for it to cool down. Then bleed each of the radiators in the house and check the pressure. If it hasn’t gone down to the target 1-1.5 point, it might be time to get in touch with an engineer.

Condensate pipes

If incorrect pressure isn’t the problem and the weather is frosty, you could be dealing with a frozen condensate pipe and the consequential blockage.

The condensate pipe usually travels from your boiler to the nearest outside wall. The purpose of it is to allow excess liquid from steam and condensation to exit the building. If the weather is particularly chilly, it may have frozen over and be causing your boiler to shut down.

To fix it, you simply need to pour warm water over the frozen pipe until it has defrosted. Then you can reboot your boiler.

Read our winter tips for guidance on how you can prepare your home for the colder winter months.

Faulty boiler valves

Another cause of an inactive boiler could be faulty valves. There are a range of reasons your valves might be in bad shape, including age, wear and tear, or damage from external factors such as flooding.

You can often tell if boiler valves are faulty as they will be making more noise than usual. Rattling and humming noises coming from your boiler are often caused by faulty valves.

This issue requires a professional to solve, so get in touch with a boiler engineer to get your boiler back up and running.

Is it time for a new boiler?

Often when problems arise with your boiler there is a simple solution, and when you find your boiler has shut off it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to shell out for a new one.

However, for homes with ageing boilers, you might find that the occasions of boiler error and malfunction are on the rise and call-out fees for engineers can quickly add up.

If this sounds familiar, it could be time to upgrade your boiler with Warmaway. We offer a complete service – we won’t just supply you with leading quality boiler systems, but we’ll install it for you too. And should any problems arise, we can be on hand to help with repairs, so your life is put on hold for as little time as possible.

Visit our new boilers page now to learn more about how Warmaway can get you set up and sorted with a new boiler.