fbpx

  • Table of contents

    Common Boiler Breakdown Problems

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

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

    You 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 the manual will be listed all the fault codes, 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 can 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.
    • It 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.
    • The pressure drops to a point where the boiler sensor senses low water.
    • Then throws up a fault code that locks the boiler out.

    Low water pressure can mean many things. 

    • it could be a leak somewhere on the system.
    • Radiator valves leaking 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 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 lose 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.

    • The water is very dirty when it comes out of the vent. 
    • This normally indicates no inhibitor within the system, even if the inhibitor was added.
    • Over time it will dilute down and lose its protection, it will need to be topped up.
    • It needs to be checked every year without fail.

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

    • This will 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.

    • 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.
    • Condense will start to back up into the boiler, and eventually, the boiler will breakdown.
    • A fault code will be displayed 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.
    • 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 advice helps you in keeping your boiler working and
    • producing all the heat and hot water you need.