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Run into a problem? Whilst it’s frustrating when your boiler runs into a problem, it’s often something simple and quick to resolve. Before calling or filling in the contact form, please check the self-help topics below for essential advice on your heating system.

I can smell gas!

Gas leaks are very dangerous and can lead to fires and explosions, as well as Carbon Monoxide poisoning. So it’s crucial to act quickly if you can smell gas. These are the steps you need to take to stay safe:

Get fresh air immediately; make sure you open all doors and windows to ventilate the area.
Turn off the gas emergency control valve (also called gas emergency shut off valve) at the meter, unless the meter is located in a basement or cellar or at the LPG bulk tank or storage vessels.
Extinguish all naked flames and don’t smoke.
Don’t operate electrical switches (including turning light switches on or off) because this can ignite escaping gas.
Contact the relevant National Gas Emergency service number for your area.
If the attending emergency operative identifies an issue with any gas appliances, follow their advice concerning the use of the equipment. Where advised, contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to fix the appliance and check it’s safe.
If you’re feeling unwell, visit your GP or hospital immediately and let them know you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide.
Don’t turn the gas supply on again until it’s been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

If you smell gas, want to report a gas leak or require gas emergency services, there’s a free, 24-hour National Gas Emergency Helpline you can call.

The gas emergency number you need depends on where in the UK you’re based and the type of gas that’s involved:

Country	Natural Gas (NG)	Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)	Towns Gas/Mains Gas**
England, Wales and Scotland	0800 111 999	Contact number on bulk storage vessel or meter*	N/A
Northern Ireland	0800 002 001	Contact number on bulk storage vessel or meter*	N/A
Isle of Man	0808 1624 444	0808 1624 444	0808 1624 444
Guernsey	N/A	01481 749000	01481 749000
Jersey	N/A	01534 755555	01534 755555

Water is everywhere!
I need help fast!

Leaking or dripping water is a real pain because it can cause damage to your home, as well as causing problems with the electrical components of your boiler.

If you notice water coming from your system’s pipes, this could be caused by corrosion or by weakened seals on joints.

If the leak seems to be coming from the boiler itself, this could indicate a problem with an internal component, such as a pressure valve or pump seal. These problems can occur where the pressure in the system has become too high or the seal on the pump has worn out.

If you’ve spotted a leak, you should follow these simple steps to minimize any further water damage:

1. Turn off your water supply

2. Switch off the heating

3. Clear up or collect any water

4. Contact a qualified engineer

Don’t attempt a DIY job on your boiler! Only Gas Safe registered engineers are able to work on gas appliances, so you should contact your engineer to take care of the problem.

Help!
My boiler is losing pressure!

If you’ve been experiencing boiler problems such as a lack of hot water, it could be that low pressure in your boiler is to blame. The good news is that low pressure is usually easy to spot, and, in some cases, you can address it yourself.

If you find that your pressure gauge is below one bar of pressure, adjusting this to 1.5 should solve your problem in the short term. To top up the water pressure in your boiler you’ll need to switch off your boiler and allow it to cool. Then, you’ll need to check that both ends of the filling loop are securely attached, before opening both valves. Once the pressure gauge reads 1.5 bar, close both valves, one after the other. You can then switch the boiler back on and, if needed, press the reset button.

There are lots of possible reasons for your low-pressure fault. If you notice your pressure gauge drops overnight, this could be caused by a leak in your system; a problem with the pressure relief valve; air in your radiators; or a problem with the expansion vessel.

Depending on what the cause is, you may need to talk to a Gas Safe engineer so that the issue doesn’t recur.

My radiators aren’t getting hot

If you’ve got cold radiators, this could indicate a need to bleed them, or that you need a power flush.

Bleeding your radiators

If you’ve noticed that your radiators are cold or have cold spots; or are making funny noises; this might indicate that air is trapped inside them, and needs to be released. The good news is that releasing the trapped air, or ‘bleeding’ your radiators is a relatively straightforward task that you can do yourself.

To bleed your radiators, you need to use your radiator key to open the bleed valve on your radiator. You should hear a hissing sound as the air escapes. Keep releasing air from the valve until you can no longer hear air escaping and some water begins to trickle out.

Power flushing

Another potential cause of your cold radiators is that they are being blocked by sludge. Sludge is a muddy substance made up of rust, dirt and debris which collects over time in your pipes and radiators. This plays havoc with the efficiency of your heating system, causing corrosion and blockages. This issue can be solved with a power flush.

A power flush is a cleansing process which cleans your entire central heating system, removing the sludge, which would otherwise cause damage and reduce efficiency. So, if when you bleed your radiators, the water is discoloured, or no water escapes at all, this may signal the need for a power flush.

I have no heating and no hot water!

The dreaded no heating or hot water scenario is probably your biggest fear when it comes to boiler problems, and you’re not alone. Nobody wants to be without heating or hot water, particularly in the winter months.

If you’ve got a system or a heat-only boiler and you have an additional immersion heater, you’ll be able to get hot water while the issue with your boiler is being fixed. Unfortunately, you’ll have no such luck here if yours is a combi boiler.

There are lots of possible explanations for why your heating and hot water has gone off. The simplest things to check first are:

● Is your boiler displaying a fault code?
● Is there an issue with the power supply?
● Is there an issue with the water supply to your house?
● Is there an issue with the fuel supply – are other gas appliances working?
● Is the condensate pipe frozen?
● Is the pilot light on?
● Is the boiler pressure too low?
● Is your timer or thermostat working?

If none the above applies, it’s time to call out an engineer because there may be a component failure, such as a broken diaphragm or valve.

My boiler isn’t responding to my thermostat

Most people use a thermostat to control their boiler’s heating schedule and the temperature of their central heating. At its simplest, a thermostat is a control used to regulate the temperature in your heating system. Once you have set a preferred temperature, your thermostat works to keep your rooms at this desired level. It works by monitoring the ambient temperature in your room, and then turning your heating on or off to maintain your chosen temperature. Obviously, if your boiler stops responding to your thermostat, it can cause problems. It might be that your boiler and thermostat are not communicating with one another, or it could be that there’s a faulty component.

To get to the bottom of this issue, you should start with the obvious. Check that your boiler and thermostat have power. It could be as simple as the batteries in your thermostat need changing, or the clocks have recently changed. Once you’ve eliminated those possibilities, consult the manufacturer instructions for your thermostat. Popular brands are likely to have useful FAQs and troubleshooting advice on their websites.

If your control is quite old, it might be time for a new one if advice from the manufacturer seems to suggest it’s on its last legs.

Preventing future problems

We hope that you’ve found this trouble shooting guide helpful. Remember that prevention is better than cure, so the best way to avoid running into problems in the first place, is to have your boiler serviced annually.

An annual service will help you to:

Avoid breakdowns;
Maximise the lifespan of your boiler;
Maintain your boiler’s efficiency to help keep your energy bills low;
Ensure it is safe; and
Maintain your boiler’s guarantee.

But unfortunately, boilers don’t last forever. If you’ve noticed your boiler is struggling to do what it used to do; or is breaking down regularly; or is not working at all, you might be wondering whether you should try to repair what you have, or whether the time has come for a replacement.

The Heating People are here to help you find what’s right for you, and your home. Call us today to discuss your options with a boiler replacement.

The Heating People Knowledge Vault

A heat pump installation by The Heating People.

Advice

0151 792 6245

Find your help and support here

Table of Contents

I can smell gas!

Water is everywhere!
I need help fast!

Help!
My boiler is losing pressure!

My radiators aren’t getting hot

I have no heating and no hot water!

Preventing future problems

Heat Pump FAQs

Understanding boiler specifications

9 Common heating mistakes… and how to avoid them!

Registered Company Address

Serving

Useful Links

Follow Us

0151 792 6245

Find your help and support here

Table of Contents

I can smell gas!

Water is everywhere! I need help fast!

Help! My boiler is losing pressure!

My radiators aren’t getting hot

I have no heating and no hot water!

Preventing future problems

Heat Pump FAQs

Understanding boiler specifications

9 Common heating mistakes… and how to avoid them!

Registered Company Address

Serving

Useful Links

Follow Us

Water is everywhere!
I need help fast!

Help!
My boiler is losing pressure!