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Winter can be a wonderful time of year, strolling in the crisp air snuggled under a cosy jacket then grabbing a warm cuppa. Of course, that is assuming your boiler is working, and you can defrost when you arrive home.
There are a few things that can prevent boilers from heating up. This guide will give you a few tips on troubleshooting this problem and indicating when to call a repair service.
Step 1: Don’t panic! Often the simplest solutions go unchecked. Start with a home assessment:
Does the boiler have power?
- Is the boiler turned on? – sometimes we can accidentally switch this off without realising.
- Is the control panel for the boiler work? – If you have an electric boiler double-check, you have power by testing if other lights and appliances are working.
Is the gaslighting?
- Have you paid your latest gas bill? – That’s awkward, the problem might be you! Check your gas by turning on another gas item like your stove.
- Is the pilot light working? Older boilers have an exposed flame that can be manually relit. Set the reset switch to ‘off’. Next, turn the switch to ‘Pilot’ and relight by holding the grey button on the gas valve and keep pressing the orange piezo (ignition) until the boiler lights. Recommend trying this 3 times before calling someone. (happy for you to reword in the queen English, so it makes sense)
Newer boilers have electronic burner ignitions, making them safer for the home. If yours is malfunctioning, you will need to call us (insert thumbs up emoji)
Is there water?
- This may be stretch but check your water supply is working by running another tap.
- Does the water pressure keep dropping? The water pressure in the boiler should be maintained at 1.5 bar. Most boilers have an automatic filling system that is controlled by a pressure valve. If your water pressure keeps dropping, you will need to call in a boiler repair specialist to assess the problem.
If your electricity, power and gas are all working, try resetting the boiler by flicking on and off the switch.
Check the boiler controls
- What temperature is the thermostat set to? Sometimes power cuts can reset the factory settings on boilers, turning the thermostat way down. Check that the thermostat is in ‘heat mode’ and set to your desired temperature.
- Is there a clock and timer setting? – some boilers control the heat by using a timer. If your power supply went down, or clocks changed, or batteries are drained; this may be affecting when your boiler heats up.
If your boiler is still not working after troubleshooting this list, you will need to book a boiler repairer to solve it. Luckily for you, Avid Heating has a 24hr boiler repair service and a ‘no fix, no fee’ policy.
Book a service now!
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