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Experts at Heatingforce.co.uk
collaborated with heating expert Alex Ion to find quick and cost effective solutions to our boiler problems
Boiler losing pressure
The reason for boilers losing pressure is usually a leak. This is not necessarily a leak in the boiler itself, it could be a leak anywhere in the central heating system.
To prevent the boiler from losing pressure, you need to find the leak and fix it. Then you can top up the boiler via the filling loop, and it should operate without further problems.
Boiler is making a loud noise
The most likely reason for this is that one of the motorised components has seized, such as the pump. To make sure, check whether the pump is hot. If it’s uncomfortably hot to touch while the boiler makes a loud vibrating noise, then you can safely assume that it is the pump.
Often a boiler will cease when the pump is clogged with limescale or heating sludge. Or in some cases it may be a case of wear and tear as the boiler ages.
The best course of action is to contact a Gas Safe engineer to inspect the boiler. It is likely that they will have to do a thorough clean and also potentially flush out the entire central heating system. Alternatively if the issue is down to the age of the boiler, you may have to replace it with a new one.
Boiler is leaking water
One of the explanations for this is that the pressure in the boiler is too high and the pressure release valve is releasing water from the system to lower the boiler pressure.
Boiler is gaining pressure
This can be caused by too much pressure in the system, filler loop letting in water, or faulty pressure release components. A heating engineer should be able to rectify this problem; don’t attempt to do this as you may need to disconnect the filling loop.
Boiler keeps firing up
The main reasons for this include gas valve faults in which not enough gas is allowed into the boiler, as well as gas meter problems. Whereby the regulator freezes in cold weather so the meter does not allow a sufficient amount of gas to keep the boiler going.
Alex Ion gives tips on how to keep your boiler in good condition
“Boilers should be serviced annually by a qualified Gas Safe engineer. The engineer would also get a chance to spot any issues that could arise and fix them before they prevent your boiler from functioning. A good hack is to book your service before the winter months (when you’ll need your heating most) to get any underlying issues resolved.
If your pressure is too low or too high, your boiler needs some help. Check the pressure gauge, which is usually located on the front of the boiler unit. It should rest around the 1.5 bar. If it’s below this, it will need repressurising and if it’s above, your radiators might need bleeding.
To protect your property from heating problems, remember to bleed radiators regularly – it’s good to do this at least once a year. And it’s simple! It just involves opening a valve on your radiators and letting out the trapped air preventing them from heating up properly.
In the winter, your pipes are at risk of freezing and potentially bursting. Heat retention is key, and by insulating any exposed pipes, you’ll be able to maximise heat retention in the system. A lagging or the protective layer can be bought from most hardware stores.
Lastly, make sure you switch your boiler on before you need it to rectify any problems ahead of the winter.”
Credit: https://heatingforce.co.uk
