5 Common Boiler Problems

Common boiler problems immediately make us think "expensive".

Complexity does not always lead to boiler problems, but it can mean that the average user is a little bewildered or scared to touch what looks like a complicated and strange electrical wiring box.

The average gas boiler that is now being installed in your home looks a lot more complicated than ever. Just like other kitchen appliances, they are controlled by intelligent electronic systems and devices.

This is fine and is often the best course of action, but there are some simple things that go wrong with a boiler that can fix it and get you the hot water or heating you need. Whatever you do it is always best to be safe and understand your limitations, especially when it comes to gas or electricity.

Also, if you've had a problem and fixed it, it could easily happen again, so call a plumber or heating engineer because you never know what could be causing the problem with your heating system in your home. Even a noisy boiler suffering from loud noises can have a simple solution.

5 Boiler problems to check before calling a technician.

  1. One of the most common boiler problems has to be pressure. Nowadays and with 80% of all combi boilers having a sealed heating circuit, a lack of pressure means it will not work. Most boilers need to have a pressure of around 1.5 bar in the system to ignite or run. If the pressure is not enough, the boiler detects that it will not be able to move enough water in the system, so it will lock up. Combined and system boilers now have trouble code diagnostics referenced in manuals to explain common problems and reasons for the problem encountered. If you restore low water levels, be sure to consult the boiler manual and do not leave the filling circuit or cold power supply active, otherwise the next problem will occur.

  2. 5 Common Boiler Problems
    Over pressurization is the result of too much water in the system and often the consequence of too free filling after a pressure drop. This is common when a home owner cannot operate a boiler after a long period of inactivity and the system is cold and does not take into account the expansion of water in the system when it is hot. If you have a pressure gauge, refer to the boiler manual to identify the correct pressure range for your system. The system must be at the right water pressure since both low and high pressure can cause problems for the boiler. Another symptom of over pressurization is that the pressure relief valve may be leaking water. This water flow technically indicates that the pressure valve is doing its job correctly.

  3. The boiler in lockout mode and it will not work is very common and can be related to the above and also many more variables. Boilers blocked because they are built to avoid catastrophic failures (the boiler is completely irreparable or dangerous). Often it is a variable that can be solved by simply turning off the boiler for several minutes so that it solves the problem, then turn it back on and it may work again. There is a sequence of shots and if any of these are incorrect, we will not go to the next stage.

  4. The air in the system is not good for radiators, components and boilers. It can cause seizure of the circulation pump and interruption of operation or blocking of the boiler. It is easily remedied and does not require you to touch gas or electricity. Even limescale, caused by hard water, can accumulate over time and cause problems for the boiler. This can be solved by using chemicals for electrical flushing of the system.

  5. Heating and hot water do not work or only work when I have them both turned on at the same time. Depending on the type of boiler you have, it will determine how your plumbing system works. The combined boilers are a sealed unit and all the operating elements are internal. If you are heating up and you are not switching to hot water when you open the tap, it is very likely that the common cause of the problem is the diverter valve located inside the boiler casing. There are things you can do that are worth checking to remedy, but it's best to get an emergency plumber out.

Call an experienced Plumber

If you have a conventional boiler and the water pump and controls are external to the boiler and you are experiencing the above symptoms, there may be several things wrong.

The boiler is starting up but the radiators are not overheating, check if a pump is faulty and see if it works. If it is and you are not getting hot water or heating, check the motorized valves. If the pump is leaking, it could mean that the pump seal is bad and will need to be repaired.

Don't forget to check the thermostat as this is another element that causes problems. Problems with the thermostat can prevent the boiler from functioning correctly. Also check the condensate pipe as in winter a frozen condensate pipe can cause the boiler to shut down unexpectedly.

If your boiler has a water leak or problems with the gas supply, these are both considered serious problems and it's time to call a professional plumber, engineer or in case you smell gas, contact your gas supplier urgently and turn off the gas at the gas tap. Amateurs shouldn't mess with gas appliances as these can be very dangerous.

I hope the above helps with some of the common problems encountered, and if you are unsure, give us a call at Bath Plumber. For everything that is warranty, check with the manufacturer first to verify that it is not covered by warranty. Alternatively, an engineer registered in a gas safe can also diagnose and help with boiler repairs. You may not necessarily need a brand new boiler, so don't panic if you run into problems. Boiler problems don't always mean the worst case scenario.

Call Bath Plumber at 01225685281.


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