Five most common boiler problems you might face this winter

The boiler is an essential member of the British household, especially during the cold winter months, when it's normally responsible for securing both your hot shower and comfortable warm home. But winter is also the time when common boiler problems present themselves, sometimes costing hundreds of pounds to unsuspecting homeowners.

Some of the most common boiler problems include leaks, low pressure, suspicious noises and no heating or hot water. Luckily most of the time, these common boiler problems can be fixed relatively quickly with the help of an experienced engineer. To make sure last-minute, costly, winter repairs are handled with ease and proficiency, and without affecting your tight budget, why not consider a Rightio Care Plan?

Some common boiler problems include:

Leaks

The most common cause of a leak is a broken internal component, perhaps the pump seal or the pressure valve. If it's the pump seal, it will probably need replacing as it might be work out. If the leak is coming from the pressure valve then your boiler pressure might be too high. If your boiler is leaking from the pipes or the tank, this might be a corrosion issue and in more serious cases your boiler might need to be replaced.

Low Boiler Pressure

If your boiler pressure is around or below the 1 bar mark, it is getting too low. There can be several reasons for the drop - there's a water leak in the system, the radiators were bled recently or the pressure relief valve is aging and needs replacing. While there are tutorials on how to repressurise your boiler, our advice is to always call a professional.

Kettling noises

If your boiler is making strange noises, resembling a boiling kettle, it can be a sign of a sludge build up on your boiler's heat exchanger. When you hear this noise it is advisable to call a heating engineer who will probably need to flush the system in order to clear the build-up. While expensive, this can prevent further damage, whichcould even lead to a boiler replacement.

No heating or hot water

Start with a simple check to eliminate a low pressure issue or thermostat problems. If you determine that these are definitely not the source of the problem then you're probably looking at replacing a boiler part, which could add some pressure on your budget. Remember - do not try to open the boiler and replace parts yourself - always call a registered Gas Safe engineer.

Cold radiators

If your radiators are still working but parts of them are not heating properly, you're looking at either build-up of sludge, or air trapped in the system. If the top of the radiator is cold, then it's quite a simple procedure of bleeding the radiators to release the air trapped in the system. If, however, your radiators are cold at the bottom, it is most probably a sludge build-up, and the system will require a power flush.