Boilers are wonderful when they are working well, but when they break or begin emitting ghostly noises, it can feel like they’ve turned into an enemy. So, when your boiler begins to go from friend to foe, stay one step ahead by consulting our list of common boiler problems and their causes. 

Cold Showers

There’s nothing worse than turning on the shower to discover the water is freezing cold. When this happens, check the power supply to your boiler is still working and, if you’re confident of your skills, try a simple reset. If these don’t work, it’s best to call in a Gas Safe engineer to make sure you don’t accidentally cause any damage to both yourself and the boiler. 

Radiators are not heating up

Often when your radiators are not heating up properly, it is due to a build up of sludge or air in the heating system. To remedy this, you’ll need to bleed the radiators which is quite a simple process. However, if you’re not sure of your DIY skills, we always recommend calling in a professional to do this for you. 

Your boiler is leaking water

If you discover your boiler is leaking, it’s most likely due to a damaged internal component, while if it appears to be coming from the pipes or tank, this could mean your system is suffering from corrosion. An experienced boiler engineer will be able to accurately diagnose the problem and recommend the best course of action. 

Strange noises coming from your boiler

When a boiler makes strange noises, known as kettling, this is usually a sign that it’s either not working properly or, even worse, is about to break down completely. There are a few types of noises that indicate an issue, including:

  • Clunking and banging - this suggests an accumulation of limescale on the heat exchanger is blocking water flow. As this is quite a serious concern and can cause the water to boil, steam and expand, it’s important to call in a qualified engineer straight away to get to the root of the issue. 
  • Boiler whistling – often caused by trapped air in the system, a whistling noise is often relatively simple to fix by a qualified engineer. 
  • Gurgling noises – there are a number of reasons your boiler is making gurgling noises such as trapped air, a blockage, sediment settlement or frozen pipes.  

Whatever the noise, get it checked over professionally to make sure you get the right solution. 

Pilot light goes out

If your boiler’s pilot light keeps going out, it could be a sign of a broken thermostat that is blocking the gas supply. It could also be caused by a draught blowing the light out or a build up of material. As the pilot light is directly connected to the gas supply, get a gas safe qualified engineer to check what the issue is. 

If you’re worried about a problem with your boiler, it’s always best to get a quailed engineer to take a look. At Greenstar, one of the South’s leading plumbing and boiler companies, all our engineers are Gas Safe registered and are experienced in diagnosing and fixing all sorts of boiler problems. Contact us today on 01202 355 344 and we will be happy to help.