Dealing with a malfunctioning boiler can be a frustrating experience, but before you call in an expensive professional, there are several DIY steps you can take to diagnose and potentially fix the issue yourself. In this article, we’ll guide you through four simple ways to troubleshoot your boiler and get your heating system back up and running.
1. Re-pressurise Your Boiler
Low boiler pressure is a common problem that can cause your heating system to malfunction. To check your boiler’s pressure:
Locate the water pressure indicator, usually found on the front of your boiler. If the indicator shows a reading below 1 bar, your boiler pressure is too low.
Find the boiler’s filling loop, typically located at the bottom of the unit.
Make sure the boiler is turned off, then attach the ends of the hose to the valves.
Open the valves and listen for the sound of water filling the system.
Watch the pressure indicator until it reaches 1.5 bar, then close the valves and switch the boiler back on.
2. Reset Your Boiler
If your boiler is not responding, a simple reset may do the trick:
Refer to your boiler’s manual to locate the reset button.
Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.
Wait a few minutes, and your boiler should start working again.
If the initial reset doesn’t work, try it a second time.
3. Bleed Your Radiators
Air trapped in your radiators can prevent them from heating up properly. To bleed your radiators:
Turn on the central heating and check which radiators are not warming up.
Once identified, turn off the central heating and allow the radiators to cool.
Use a radiator key to slowly turn the valve on the radiator anti-clockwise. You should hear a hissing sound as the trapped air escapes.
Once the hissing stops, close the valve by turning it clockwise.
4. Change Thermostat Batteries
If your thermostat is not responding, it may be due to low battery levels:
Remove the thermostat housing from the wall mount and turn it over to locate the battery removal slots.
Take out the old batteries and replace them with new ones, typically 2 x AA or 2 x AAA batteries.
Reattach the thermostat housing to the wall mount.
It may take a few days for the low battery warning sign to disappear from the monitor.