Boiler problems and how to avoid them...

The majority of boilers have a number of controls that are aimed at making it as easy as possible for you get heat and hot water when you need it. Because of the sensitive nature of these controls if there are any faults it can end up costing you quite a lot of money in excess heating etc.

Because of this it is thoroughly recommended that you regularly check your thermostat, time switches and the programming facility.

It is extremely important that you never attempt to undertake any type of servicing or repair work on your boiler or heating system aside from that mentioned above. You should always look to get someone approved by the Gas Safe Register to come out and do any repairs or maintenance for your system.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that a good habit to get into is having your boiler and heating system checked regularly by an approved engineer. In fact annual boiler servicing is great way to prevent any major problems and expensive callouts.

Thermostats
It is important to keep a close eye on your thermostat as when they start to get a bit older they can lose some of their accuracy. Now whilst your engineer is able to clean up and even recalibrate your thermostat controls it is often a better idea just to purchase new ones from a DIY store as you will get more use and they can often be more energy efficient.

Programmers and time switches
This is simply a case of checking that the timer is working correctly otherwise you will find the heating going on at the wrong times etc.

Electronic programmers
You need to check that the LCD display and circuit board are all still functioning correctly, fortunately most boilers have a standard universal back plate behind the electronic one so it’s easy enough to purchase and fit a replacement.

Radiator valve
It is a good idea just to check that the valves on your radiators are working, depending on the type of valve you can do different tests; if it is a thermostatic valve then simply turn it up. If it is the standard shield valve then just remove the cover and adjust the setting.
If you don’t notice any change in the temperature then it’s time to call out an engineer to have a look at the problem.

Condensate pipe
The condensate pipe is used to carry the condensation from your boiler to the outside drain. Problems can arise during particularly cold whether when the pipe can freeze and possibly cause a block stopping the flow of condensation away from the boiler and thus forcing the boiler to shut down.

There are numerous ways to tell if the condensate pipe has frozen, the LCD display may show a fault code/warning light or they may be bubbling sounds coming from the unit itself.

Signs that the condensate pipe may have frozen include your boiler's display showing a 'fault code' or warning light as well as gurgling or bubbling sounds coming from the boiler or the condensate pipe.