During our daily life, we are accustomed to things that work as they should. We don’t think too much about the behind-the-scenes techniques that occur every day to provide us with heating, hot water and electricity. However, when things go wrong, our lives are immediately thrown into chaos, chaos and misery! And you know that one time your boiler breaks is in the middle of winter, when it works the hardest and you need it most. Here are some common problems that can occur:

Leaking – if you see a leak from your boiler, it could be caused by a number of problems. Generally, the cause is damaged internal parts such as pump seals or valves. Pump seal leaks most likely only require a replacement seal and a pressure leak can mean that your boiler pressure is too high. Never try to repair a leaky boiler yourself because you will need a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Pilot lights do not work – this could be due to the wind blowing, a build-up of dirty deposits on the lamp or a broken thermocouple that kills the gas supply. Check other gas equipment to see if they are functioning and if not, ask your gas supplier if there are supply problems. If this is not the case, then you will need advice from a professional gas engineer. Never try to do work on the boiler yourself. For Boiler installation Bristol, visit www.greenerhomesgroup.co.uk/boiler-installations.html

Low Pressure – if you notice that your central heating is not working properly, it could be that your boiler pressure drops too low. Look at the pressure gauge on your boiler and if it looks below 1 then there might be a problem. There may be a leak in the system somewhere or a pressure valve that needs to be replaced. You can check for yourself and if you find it, contact a technician.

Thermostat problems – if your thermostat starts and turns off when it shouldn’t, then it might need to be replaced. Check first to see if it is set to the right setting and you have never accidentally knocked it. It may also be that your house is warmer than you think and the thermostat will not let the boiler heat your house higher than specified. If it’s old and only loses accuracy, it’s time for a new one.

Strange noises – does your boiler make sounds like a boiling kettle? This noise, known as kettling, occurs when limescale builds up on a boiler heat exchanger. The flow of water becomes limited in the exchanger and excess heat, causing it to boil. This mostly occurs in hard water areas and causes higher operational costs and a shorter lifespan for the system. To properly remove the system and remove deposits, contact a professional.