Boiler broken down — or time to get ready for winter?

A sudden or steady drop in pressure is usually caused by small hidden leaks in radiators or pipe joints, an expansion vessel that has lost its air charge, or a faulty pressure relief valve. First, top the pressure back up to 1.5 bar using the filling loop under the boiler. If it drops again within a few hours or days, have the system professionally diagnosed before the problem gets worse.

To keep your boiler running for years and your gas consumption under control, it should be serviced at least once a year. The best time is autumn, before the heating season starts. Regular servicing greatly reduces the risk of a sudden breakdown and helps lower your monthly heating bills.

This means sludge, rust and limescale have built up inside the radiators and pipework. Water can’t circulate properly through the lower part of the radiator, so heat isn’t spread evenly. The fix is a powerflush — cleaning the system with a compressor unit and special chemicals without removing the radiators.

If the radiators heat up normally but the taps run cold, the most common causes are a plate heat exchanger blocked with limescale, a failed flow sensor that detects hot water demand, or a stuck diverter (three-way) valve. Our technicians diagnose the fault on site and repair or replace the faulty part.

Unusual noises — humming, whistling or ticking — usually come from dust and dirt in the fan motor, a worn circulation pump impeller, or heavy limescale in the heat exchanger (a kettling sound). Noise is an early sign of wear inside the boiler; left alone, it can lead to far more expensive parts failing.

Our pricing is completely transparent. After a thorough on-site diagnosis, the technician explains the solution, the scope of work and — if needed — the price of the genuine replacement part. Work only begins once you have agreed.