Boiler Breakdowns: How To Survive

Not everyone has boiler cover. Many people think they will be able to deal with a boiler breakdown themselves should it arise, but without boiler breakdown cover, these people may find themselves struggling to live in a cold, unpleasant house, watching the dishes pile up in the sink, and enduring bitterly-cold showers.

With boiler cover from 24|7 Home Rescue, you won’t have to worry about a broken boiler for long. Thanks to our extensive network of thousands of certified Gas Safe engineers across the country, we can usually resolve boiler breakdowns within 48 hours, getting your central heating system back up and running quickly and efficiently. However, during the winter season, when breakdowns are more frequent, it may take more than usual to resolve the issue. Nevertheless, we will strive to get your boiler back in working order as soon as possible.

Call our 24/7 claims line immediately the moment your boiler packs in and receive fast, reliable boiler repairs.

How to survive in a boiler breakdown

If your central heating breaks down in summer, you might miss having hot water on tap, but you might be able to cope with the cold weather. However, a winter boiler breakdown can be far more difficult to deal with. If you have elderly people or people with health problems – especially respiratory conditions – in your home, then the cold weather could even be life-threatening.

The best thing to do in this situation is to go to another property that is heated, such as a relative’s home, or even a hotel, and to stay there until the boiler has been fixed. This isn’t always feasible or affordable, and you may have to cope with it at home.

If you are unable to stay somewhere else:

• Consider buying (or borrowing) alternative heating equipment, such as electric radiators and space heaters. These are more expensive to run than gas boilers, but can be essential during the colder months. If you or a member of your household is elderly or has a health problem that is exacerbated by the cold, your local authority or NHS Trust may be able to provide you with temporary heating equipment.
• Don’t use any non-electric heating products, however, aside from log-fires and properly-serviced gas fires. Many people have lost their lives by using camping stoves and outdoor gas burners indoors; these devices emit carbon monoxide, which is not going to cause any damage in the open air but can build up in enclosed spaces to reach dangerously-high concentrations. If you don’t die from carbon monoxide poisoning, you may suffer serious brain damage.
• Wrap up well. Wear thermal socks and underpants, and put plenty of layers on. There’s nothing wrong with wearing gloves, a woolly hat and an outdoor coat when sat on your couch if your house is freezing cold!
• Do what you can to insulate your home. Pull the curtains to prevent heat from escaping through the windows, and use draught excluders or even masking tape to reduce draughts.
• You can still enjoy warm baths with a broken boiler, although it may be more arduous, time-consuming and expensive to do so than it would usually be. Use a kettle to heat up some water and pour this into your bathtub. You’ll have to repeat this process dozens of times to enjoy a nice soak, of course.

Still having trouble?

Don’t attempt to touch any part of your boiler or central heating system if you’re unsure. Did you know? It’s illegal for anyone to use a gas appliance if they think it’s unsafe. It’s always better to be safe than sorry as you could make things worse.

Instead, call us on 0345 3192 247 and we can help. Our technical team will run through some simple troubleshooting to see if your problem can be resolved on the phone or they can book one of our friendly and knowledgeable Gas Safe registered engineers to get you back up and running as soon as possible.

247 Home Rescue accepts no liability for any injuries or damages you sustain following the advice on this website. If in doubt, seek professional assistance.