Boilers are great heating apparatuses that are utilized in homes to give heat and hot water all the year round. ’ In the event your boiler is not functioning as it should, it becomes a real problem and nuisance, especially at the onset of winter. A good understanding of how to repair or even when to seek the services of a professional specialising in the repair of boilers makes the process easier.
Common Boiler Issues
Without any doubt, it is essential to identify the issue first in order to solve it afterwards. Here are some common issues you might encounter:
No Heat or Hot Water: It can also be caused by a defective diaphragm, airlock or a faulty thermostat. It can also be as a result of low pressure or malfunctioning of the motorize valve.
Leaking and Dripping: Leaks can be a result of a defective part which is installed inside a system for instance a pump seal or a pressure valve. Leaks can also be caused by rusting of services in the system.
Strange Noises: You know that various noises like banging, whistling or gurgling are not healthy and can be a cause of concern. Such noises are usually indicative of presence of air in the system, low water pressure or presence of limescale.
Pilot Light Goes Out: When building up a faulty thermocouple, draft or deposits, the pilot light can be extinguished.
Thermostat Issues: If the thermostat is beginning to show inaccurate temperatures or is switching on the heating or cut off at the wrong times, it may be time to recalibrate or replace the thermostat.
Basic Troubleshooting Steps
Here are some steps you can take to diagnose and potentially fix your boiler:
Check the Thermostat: Make sure it is adjusted and the time and date settings are apt. Perhaps it will help to turn the thermostat off and then turn it back on again after a while.
Inspect the Pressure: Now look at the pressure gauge; it should normally be located at about 1 – 1. 5 bar. If pressure varies and falls below the normal range, then the system may require re-pressurization and this must be done with reference to the manufactures recommendations.
Bleed the Radiators: If your radiaters are cold and you turn on the heat, than there might be trapped air in the system. Radiators can also be bled in order to release this air, therefore contribute to efficiency of heating.
Reset the Boiler: At times, graphical glitches could be addressed by a mere reset of the game. Resetting your boiler should only be done under the guidance of the manufacturers’ guidelines.
Check for Error Codes: They might also develop defects that are denoted by what is referred to as error codes. Several boiler codes have meanings; read the details to decipher these codes and ascertain the problem.
When to Call a Professional
Some of the problems that may affect a boiler are simple to deal with while others will need the attention of a professional. Call a certified heating engineer if you experience:
- Recurrent breakages on the pipes or strange sounds.
- Frequent loss of pressure
- Regular pilot light outages
- Faults in the process that fall under the category of gas or electrical in nature.
It can be very risky as well as potentially damaging to attempt to address intricate problems if the relevant skills aren’t accessible, besides, it may cause the loss of warranty.
Regular Maintenance
In order to maintain the good working conditions of your boiler, you should call on an experienced engineer for routine checks. Periodic services can thus be done annually and enable one to determine problems that may be occurring or are likely to occur hence making your system to be efficient and reliable.
Knowing how to deal with these problems and more importantly when to seek the help of professionals you and your family can stay warm through out the cold months with a well maintained heater.
