Boilers are built to be long-lasting and durable, ensuring hot water is available throughout a property at all times. However, problems can occur, hurting and even crippling the performance of the boilers.

During the winter, more problems can arise because a boiler has to work even harder to provide hot water in freezing temperatures. Regardless of whether an issue arises or not, it is an excellent idea to be prepared in case of an emergency. As for you, having a professional’s contact details will ensure quick repairs as soon as you run into issues.

That being said, not all problems need to be fixed by an expert. Some you can do by yourself. In this article, we will list down various during the winter and what you can do to address them.

 1. Control panel error

Various factors can cause an error on the control panel. However, it can easily be fixed by resetting the system. As for the location of the reset button, that will depend on the boiler you are working with. As such, it is important to consult the boiler’s manual to see where the button is.

If you press the reset button, but nothing happens, then you will need to power off the boiler then power it back on. Once that’s done, you should not be forced to repeat this process again. If you do, and quite often, then you may need to have the boiler checked by a professional.

 2. Low boiler pressure

Low pressure can easily be discovered through various symptoms, such as clunking and banging sounds or a boiler that randomly switches itself off. One of the more obvious signs that your boiler has low pressure is that the radiator at the furthest end is not as hot.

What you need to do then is to repressurize the boiler to between 1 to 1.5 bars. If you discover that the number keeps on dropping no matter how many times you repressurize the system, there might be a leak somewhere that will require an expert to fix.

 3. Pilot light going out

The pilot light can go out for various reasons, such as lack of gas or even airflow. Regardless of the cause, you can quickly reignite the system by following the instructions given in the manual.

However, if you smell gas coming out of your boiler, or that the flame of the pilot light seems to be different in colour, you may want to avoid relighting the light. There is probably a larger issue at play, and you may need to call a technician for help.

4. Frozen condensate pipes

If you find your boilers making gurgling noises and unable to start up, there is a high chance the condensate pipes in the system have frozen over. This is because of the extreme cold temperatures of winter, and you must thaw the boiler’s condensate pipes before attempting to turn on the system again. You can easily do so by using warm (not hot) water. The warmth will gradually allow the pipe to thaw without the risk of damage.

Conclusion

The winter months put a lot of stress on your boilers, and if any problems occur, you must address them right away to prevent the issue from worsening. With that in mind, preparing your boilers for the winter is always the best way to ensure that problems do not occur, but when they do happen, do not wait to contact a professional if you cannot fix it yourself. With their help, the boiler can quickly be fixed to continue providing your facilities with the hot water you need.

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