Common Boiler Issues Homeowners Must Deal with

Boiler issues are one of the most inconvenient problems any homeowner faces, especially tenants. Not only can they make your tenants’ life miserable, but you have to supply them with hot water and heating or else you could be prosecuted.

In this article, we will run down some of the most common boiler issues and what can be done about them.

Low Pressure

You can usually check on your boiler’s pressure gauge whether the pressure is too low. If the pressure is less than 1 Bar, then your central heating won’t perform optimally.

This could happen for a variety of reasons. For instance, low pressure could be the result of leaks in your system, a malfunctioning or worn out pressure valve, or recently bleeding your radiators. The first thing you should do is check whether there’s a leak somewhere in your system. If that’s the case, then you should contact heating engineers immediately. If there are no leaks, however, it’s possible to re-pressurise the boiler yourself if you are know-how.

Gurgling, Whistling or Banging Sounds Coming from Your Boiler

While these can be inconvenient, this is a widespread problem many homeowners have to deal with. The noises will help you get a better idea of the issue and whether you should call a boiler engineer. Sounds can be caused by many factors, such as low water pressure, trapped air somewhere in the system, a faulty pump or something more severe like kittling, which is the result of limescale building up in the system.

If that is the case, your system might need a power wash, which only heating engineers should do. Recommended central heating engineers such as Plumbing Care Services, a Bristol plumbing company with a 4.84 average review score, will be the best people to contact. They can remove sludge, rust and any contaminant that may be a cause of your woes.

It’s also essential that you have a boiler engineer perform a good power flush on your system regularly, even if you don’t have issues. Neglecting to do so may result in poor performance, higher gas consumption, and mechanical failure of various components like heat exchangers, motorised valves, and pumps.

Radiators aren’t Producing Heat

Cold patches often occur because of sludge buildup or trapped air in the system, resulting in uneven heat distribution. Before calling central heating engineers, check whether the cold patch is at the bottom, top or middle of the radiator. For example, if the bottom is heating up, this could be a sign that your radiators need bleeding, which can be done easily. But if you have cold patches at the bottom or the middle of the radiator, this could be a sign of something more serious. Consider using an expert for power flush cleaning of your central heating system.

Frozen Condensate Pipes

New boiler models are usually condensing ones. Condensing boilers will take the tiny amount of waste gas produced by your boiler that transforms into the water while cooling and flush it through the condensate pipe outside. It is quite common for water in the condensate pipes to freeze and block them during cold weather periods. Defrosting can be done yourself, but it’s often better to work with a professional.

Intermittent Hot Water and Heat

Intermittent hot water and heat are some of the most apparent signs that there may be something wrong with your system. A variety of things could cause this. For instance, you could have broken airlocks or diaphragms, a broken thermostat, low water levels or a faulty motorised valve on your hands. You should first check if the issue is caused by the thermostat or boiler pressure since these are easy to access.

If the issue is low pressure, you’ll have to re-pressurise the boiler. If the thermostat is at fault, you should check the manufacturer’s manual and consider contacting them directly if you can’t find a solution and the thermostat is under warranty. If all else fails, you may be dealing with a broken valve, airlock or diaphragm. In these cases, only a qualified engineer will help.

The Boiler Keeps Switching off on its Own

If the boiler constantly switches off on its own, then you could either be dealing with a low pressure a blockage somewhere in your system. The first thing you should do is try to re-pressurise the system. If this action fails to clear the blockage, consider contacting a gas engineer immediately to see if it isn’t something more serious.

Conclusion

Boiler issues need to be addressed as quickly as possible if you want to keep your tenants happy. Make sure that you contact a qualified heating engineer as soon as you can if you think your boiler may have a significant malfunction.