Boiler playing up? Here are some common boiler and heating issues...

If your boiler is playing up, the first thing most people think is that its going to be a costly repair and whilst in some cases that is true, many repairs, if caught early enough, are easy and inexpensive to fix!

Here we look at some of the most common boiler repair problems we come across:

Cold Patches on Radiators

There are several things that can cause cold patches on radiators. If the top part of the radiator is cold then this is most likely a build up of air which can be released by simply bleeding your radiators. If the middle or bottom of the radiator is cold, then this is more likely to be sludge and rust that has built up in your radiators over time. If this is the case then the radiators will need flushing out to give them a deep clean - this is called a Power Flush and is offered by most heating engineers.

Boiler controls aren't working

If your boiler controls stop working, there could be a number of reasons.  If your thermostat is old, it is possible that it may have lost its accuracy over time which could cause issues. 

Programmers and timer switches can be set to control the hot water and heating in your home. Ensure that these are set to the correct times and that the dial isn't stuck.

There are other reasons including electronic programmers and valves but the best thing to do is consult an experienced heating engineer to look at this for you if you can't locate the problem yourself.

No Hot Water

This is one of the most common boiler issues we receive calls about. If you experience a loss of hot water, there are several things you can check to determine what the problem might be. 

Check the power supply and fuse. If you do find the fuse has blown, this could be a more serious problem and you should consult a heating engineer to investigate for you.

Check the pilot light.  It may be that this has blown out and just needs relighting. 

Check the programmer - Make sure that it's set to on and that the thermostat is turned up high enough

If you can't identify the problem, call an experienced heating engineer.

No Heating

Again this is another common issue we receive lots of calls about, particularly as we head into Autumn when people start to switch on their central heating again. The checks should be the same as no hot water.

Check the power supply and fuse. If you do find the fuse has blown this could be a more serious problem and you should consult a heating engineer to investigate for you.

Check the pilot light.  It may be that this has blown out and just needs relighting. 

Check the programmer - Make sure that it's set to on and that the thermostat is turned up high enough.

If you can't identify the problem, call an experienced heating engineer.

Boiler making banging noises

If your boiler is making banging noises, it is crucial that you find out what the problem is straight away! If you react quickly you could save money on repairs in the future.

Boiler not working

If your boiler stops working, the first thing to do is check the power and gas supply are ok. If these are both ok, check the pilot light and the central heating programmer is set to 'on'.

If you can't locate the problem, contact an experienced heating engineer.

If you find you have issues with your boiler or heating system, contact Harris Heating on 0113 250 53 75 today! Reacting quickly could mean avoiding costly repairs.