Boiler Trouble? Common Problems & Their Causes

Here at Abbey Boilers, in Horsham, West Sussex, we come across a number of common boiler problems...

1: Drips and leads

If you got a leaky boiler system then it is absolutely best to call out an Abbey Boiler Services professional. Leaks and drips generally mean an internal component is faulty - like the pump seal or pressure value. If you’re finding leaks around the pipes, radiators, and joints then it’s either because the system has been installed poorly or you are experiencing corrosion. 

2: No heating or hot running water

Definitely not what you want on a cold winter morning! Broken airlocks and diaphragms, thermostat issues, a low water level, or valve failure could all be the problem here. Some of these challenges you could perhaps tackle yourself, but it’s trial and error if you don’t know what you’re doing. Talking to an Abbey Boiler professional would be advisable. 

3: No pilot light

Well, this one’s easy to spot, isn’t it?! No flame/pilot light on the boiler. This could be due to a mechanical issue stopping the gas supply or simply a draught coming from somewhere blowing it out. Before attempting to re-light the pilot flame, please check your gas supply is turned off. If you have any doubts, it’s best to leave it to someone who knows’s what they’re doing. 


4: Kettling

The term ‘kettling’ comes from the noise you might be hearing as your pipes and radiator heat up. Kettling sounds like a kettle coming to the boil for your next cup of brew. Unfortunately, when your radiators are making this noise, it’s not good news. It means that there is likely a sludge and limescale build-up in the pipes and radiators. Kettling is more common in hard water areas. Call out a registered Abbey Boiler engineer and they’ll be able to flush out your radiators for you. 

5: Low boiler pressure

Here’s one that you can at least test yourself. Take a look at the built-in pressure gauge. If the reader says less than ‘1’ then you have low boiler pressure. This could be for a few different reasons. Check your system for a leak. If found, then this might be best for an engineer to tackle. If the system seems to be fine and you can’t find any leaks, then you could try re-pressuring the system. 

If this fails then it could be due to your radiators recently being bled - or something more sinister - the pressure release valve needs to be replaced. 

Other Issues

These are just 5 of the most common problems that you might be having with your boiler. It goes without saying if in doubt, contact a professional boiler engineer to fix the issue. Tampering with the problem yourself could make things worse. Leading to costly problems, messy cleanup or...it could even be dangerous. 

At Abbey Boilers in Horsham, West Sussex, we come across these issues on a daily basis and thus accustomed to fixing them effortlessly. If it’s the time of the year where the nights are closing in and the temperature is dropping, the last thing you want is no heat or hot water. Contact us to get your boiler serviced and have that peace of mind.