Boiler Breakdown Advise

Common Boiler Breakdown Problems

I have listed a few of the most common boiler breakdown problems below to help you get the boiler backup and working.

You wake up one morning expecting to jump in the shower only to find you have no hot water, 

you go and check the boiler and notice a fault code is showing on the display. 

So what do you do?

You need to find out what the fault code is and why it has made the boiler breakdown.

All boilers are supplied with a users manual, 

inside this manual will be listed all the fault codes and the reason for the code to display.

The fault code reason is only a guide on what to check for. 

Sometimes it can be a combination of problems, but it’s a starting point to try and trace the problem.

Sometimes it’s a quick fix just by pushing the reset button, 

Other times it can be a bit more involved.

Most boiler breakdown fault codes could be avoided,

just by maintaining your boiler on a regular basis.

All boiler manufactures recommend having a boiler service carried out each year,

To keep the boiler working as it was designed for.

A boiler is just like a car engine, if left un-serviced it will eventually breakdown,

and could possibly be costly to repair.

One of the most common boiler problems is low water pressure. 

This is caused by the water within the whole of the system dropping,

to a point where the boiler sensor senses low water,

and throws up a fault code and locks the boiler out.

Low water pressure can mean many things. 

it could be a leak somewhere on the system, 

a radiator valve leaking or even a leak on a pipe somewhere.

The most common answer to this problem is the expansion vessel. 

If your boiler has been working with no problems for the last a couple of years, 

then all of a sudden you notice the water pressure needs to be topped up every now and then, 

the chances are the expansion vessel needs checking.

The expansion vessel is like a balloon. 

Over time it will loose its pressure and water will enter the vessel, 

once this happens you may have a boiler breakdown with a fault code displaying on the boiler screen.

The expansion vessel is a very important part of the boiler.

It needs to be maintained each year.

Another common boiler breakdown is dirty water, 

this is caused when no inhibitor is added to the system water.

You may have noticed if you have ever vented a radiator,

that the water is very dirty when it comes out of the vent, 

this normally indicates no inhibitor within the system, even if inhibitor was added, 

over time it will dilute down and will need to be topped up, 

it needs to be checked every year.

The dirty water will eventually block up the boiler heat exchanger, 

this cause the boiler to overheat and go to lockout.

Have you ever encounter a boiler breakdown when it’s snowing outside even freezing?

Most boilers these days are condensing boilers, and when the boiler is working it produces condense.

The condense needs to exit into a drain, internally is preferable, 

but sometimes the condense pipe goes to an outside drain,

if this is the case the pipe needs to be protected from the cold with pipe lagging.

Should the condense pipe freeze over, 

the condense will start to back up into the boiler and eventually the boiler will breakdown, 

with a fault code displaying on the boiler display.

These are just a couple of the most common boiler breakdown faults that could be avoided,

if only you had the boiler serviced.

Boilers do breakdown even when serviced each year,

but not as much as a boiler not serviced.

Always have your boiler serviced each year by a Gas Safe Registered company, 

don’t use Joe Bloggs from down the road just because he is cheaper.

All Gas Safe Engineers have to re-sit their gas exams every five years to be able to carry on working within the gas industry.

I hope this advise helps you in keeping your boiler working and

producing all the heat and hot water you need.