Boilers stop working for a wide range of reasons. Modern boilers are far stronger and more resilient than their predecessors, and people get used to having central heating and hot water on-tap, but the simplicity of boiler operation belies the complexity of the appliance.
With 247 Home Rescue’s boiler cover, you don’t have to worry if your boiler is not working – just give us a call on our 24/7 dedicated claims line and we will send a Gas Safe-registered engineer to your property as quickly as possible. We aim to respond to all boiler breakdown claims in as little as four hours!
Why boilers stop working
Electrical problems
In some cases, boilers stop working because of minor electrical problems – in many cases, people can resolve these issues themselves without a professional’s help.
- The electricity supply to the boiler may have turned off. If this has happened, simply switch it on again and reset the appliance.
- If your electricity cut out recently – for instance if your fuse box keeps tripping – you may need to reset the appliance, such as by adjusting the timer.
- Sometimes, a ‘soft reset’ can resolve electrical malfunctions in a boiler. A ‘soft reset’ simply entails turning the boiler off, and then turning it on again.
Gas problems
If your boiler has stopped working and you believe it to be a gas problem then step away from the boiler! Gas work can only be performed by Gas Safe-registered engineers, so if you have a gas-related defect, then you will likely need to claim on your boiler breakdown cover or get in touch with an engineer.
- The gas supply to your boiler may have been switched off – you may have accidentally turned off the gas supply, or knocked a valve. Check to see that your gas supply is still working.
- If other gas appliances are also not working, then you will need to book a visit with an engineer.
Plumbing problems
Although laypeople will be able to resolve a couple of plumbing problems, these can frequently be too difficult for inexperienced people to perform safely and effectively. If your boiler is not working due to a plumbing problem, it’s best to call an engineer.
- Are your pipes frozen? If the outside temperature has dropped below zero, then this may well be the case. Read how to defrost frozen pipes in order to deal with this problem. A frozen condensate pipe – the pipe that expels steam from the boiler – is implicated in a number of boiler breakdowns in cold weather.
- Is your water turned on? You may have accidentally turned the stopcock off.
- Does the boiler need to be repressurised? Read our advice about repressurising boilers.
- Is the ball float valve in your water cistern stuck? Take a look in your cistern – if it is almost empty or completely empty, move the ball float valve and give it a clean.
If your boiler is not working due to a mechanical fault it’s illegal to touch the components, so get an engineer in.
Mechanical problems
If the internal components of a gas boiler – such as its pumps and valves – have stopped working, you will be unable to legally repair the boiler yourself. Doing so could also be dangerous – only qualified and competent gas engineers can work on the internal components of gas boilers.
Still not working? Don’t worry. We’re here to help
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.
