With record rises in energy bills due from April, householders are being warned of the importance of ensuring boilers are fully functional.
Doing so not only means they’ll keep homes warm during any cold snaps, but they will also save on energy.
With this in mind, experts at Heatingforce.co.uk decided to investigate what are the most searched for questions to do with boiler problems.
They then consulted with heating expert Alex Ion who answered them.
Most people queried the costs of repairing or replacing a boiler.
When you’re in need of a new boiler or for yours to be fixed this can be daunting.
Heating Expert Alex Ion said: ‘The most common boiler issue question revolves around them losing pressure.
“The reason for this is usually a leak. This is not necessarily a leak in the boiler itself, it could be a leak anywhere in the central heating system.
“To prevent the boiler from losing pressure, you need to find the leak and fix it. Then you can top up the boiler via the filling loop, and it should operate without further problems.”
The second most common boiler issue question is why a boiler is making a loud noise.
“The most likely reason for this is that one of the motorised components has seized, such as the pump,” Alex said.
“To make sure, check whether the pump is hot. If it’s uncomfortably hot to touch while the boiler makes a loud vibrating noise then you can safely assume that it is the pump.
“Often a boiler will cease when the pump is clogged with limescale or heating sludge. Or in some cases it may be a case of wear and tear as the boiler ages.”
Alex recommends that householders should call a Gas Safe engineer to inspect it.
“It is likely that they will have to do a thorough clean and also potentially flush out the entire central heating system. Alternatively if the issue is down to the age of the boiler, you may have to replace it with a new one,” he said.”
Another problem that seems to be queried a lot is why is my boiler leaking water. One of the explanations for this is that the pressure in the boiler is too high and the pressure release valve is releasing water from the system to lower the boiler pressure.
Others ask why is the boiler gaining pressure. Alex says this can be caused by too much pressure in the system, filler loop letting in water, or faulty pressure release components.
Our final boiler related issue question is why does my boiler keep firing up.
“The main reasons for this include gas valve faults in which not enough gas is allowed into the boiler, as well as gas meter problems,” Alex says. “The regulator freezes in cold weather so the meter does not allow a sufficient amount of gas to keep the boiler going.”
