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Gastech Heating And Plumbing

Common Boiler Problems and What You Can Do About Them

Updated: Aug 30, 2023

Your boiler is an integral working part of your home, so it’s important to keep it well maintained and functioning for as long as possible. However, from time to time you may run into issues. Perhaps your boiler has been making a strange sound, or you’ve got a frozen pipe. In this blog, we discuss the most common boiler problems you’re likely to encounter and tell you how to fix them.



Boiler controls


Pilot light keeps going out

The pilot light is the small gas burner kept alight permanently on your boiler. It’s quite common for this to go out and could be caused by something as simple as a draught blowing the flame out or a build-up on the gas nozzle. Check that your other gas appliances are working. If they're not, contact your gas supplier. If your gas supply is okay, try reigniting the pilot light by following your boiler manufacturer's instruction manual. Replace your boiler if the problem persists.


Boiler is making noise (gurgling, whistling or banging)

If your boiler is making vibrating, banging, gurgling or whistling noises, the most likely cause is air in the system. Other causes include low water pressure or a failing pump. If your boiler is humming or vibrating, adjust the settings or check the connectors. If your pipes are gurgling, consider bleeding your radiators. Remember a frozen condensate pipe can also cause this. Banging or knocking can be caused by the expansion and contraction of your heating pipes. This is normal, but it could be useful to check that the pipes aren't fixed to floorboards or joists too tightly.


Frozen condensate pipe

If you have a condensing boiler, it will have a pipe that carries condensate (acidic water) to an external drain. In cold weather, this pipe can freeze, which causes noise in the pipes. Normally, your boiler will have a fault code notifying you when this pipe is frozen. You can usually thaw a pipe safely yourself, but you can call in a registered engineer if you’re not confident in this.


No heating/hot water

Your boiler is a key part of your home and you should be able to rely on it to help provide your home with heating and hot water. There could be many causes for this fault - many of which require a replacement part. There is not usually one single issue that can lead to your boiler failing to provide heat or hot water, however you should start by checking that there are no issues with your boiler’s pressure or thermostat. If there are no issues, call an engineer to repair your boiler.


If you’re in need of boiler repair, get in touch with Gastech. From boiler installation to boiler replacement, our extensive boiler services will ensure all your needs are met.

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