Boiler Breakdown? What to Do If Your Boiler Breaks Down
Boiler broken down? Here is what to do if your boiler breaks down. Note any error code, then check the power, gas supply, pressure, thermostat, and condensate pipe, and reset the boiler once. If it still won’t work, switch it off and call a Gas Safe registered engineer.
These steps are for the first few minutes of a boiler breakdown. After that, the next move depends on the fault. A tripped switch, low pressure or a frozen condensate pipe is easy to sort out. Below, you will find how to tell if a broken boiler is an emergency, which checks are safe, who to call and how to keep warm while you wait.
Is a Broken Boiler an Emergency?
Most boiler faults are not emergencies. If you smell gas or suspect that there may be carbon monoxide in the room, this is a boiler breakdown emergency, and you need to follow the steps below. Any other fault is not an emergency. It is urgent when there is no heat for a baby, an older person or someone who is sick, or it is freezing outside.
What to Do If You Smell Gas
The smell of gas from a boiler is always an emergency. Take these steps:
- Avoid using light switches, electrical appliances or candles and extinguish any flames.
- Open doors and windows.
- If you can access the gas meter safely, shut the gas off quickly.
- Walk out of the house and call from an outside location.
The National Gas Emergency Service is free and open 24 hours a day. Call 0800 111 999 in England, Scotland and Wales, or 0800 002 001 in Northern Ireland. Stay out until you are told it is safe to go back in.
Carbon Monoxide Symptoms From a Faulty Boiler
Carbon monoxide has no smell or colour, so you notice it through how you feel. The NHS lists the symptoms as headache, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, tiredness and confusion. If you have them, turn the boiler off, get into fresh air and call for medical help. Do not turn on the boiler until a Gas Safe registered engineer has checked it. A carbon monoxide alarm will sound when you cannot spot the signs yourself.
How to Tell If Your Boiler Has Broken Down
Your boiler has broken down if you have no heating or no hot water, or if you see any of these:
- An error code or a red lockout light
- Pressure that is low or keeps falling
- Gurgling, banging or whistling
- Water dripping from the boiler or its pipes
- The boiler keeps switching itself off
A broken boiler does not always stop completely. If the boiler is running but only the taps or only the radiators are cold, the fault is different. See no hot water from a working boiler or hot water but no central heating for those cases. If the boiler won’t fire up at all, go to the checks below. Age, pressure loss, frozen pipes, and missed servicing are the usual reasons why boilers break down.
7 Quick Boiler Checks Before You Call an Engineer
If your boiler has stopped working, go through these seven checks in order. Several faults clear at this stage.
- Note the error code. Write down any code or flashing light, then look it up for your fault code whether its Ideal, Worcester Bosch or Baxi.
- Check the power. A blank display means a tripped switch or a blown fused spur. If a fuse has gone, you can reset a tripped fuse at the fuse box.
- Check the gas supply. If the hob or another gas appliance is also dead, the fault is in the supply. On a prepayment meter, check your credit.
- Check the pressure. The gauge should read 1 to 1.5 bar when the boiler is cold, so check your manual. A reading below 1 bar points to a boiler losing pressure.
- Check the thermostat and timer. Replace flat batteries and reset the timer after a power cut.
- Check the condensate pipe. In freezing weather, gurgling followed by a shutdown point to a frozen condensate pipe or a blocked one. Pour warm water over the pipe, never boiling water.
- Reset the boiler once. Press the reset button one time. On an Ideal, follow the steps to reset an Ideal combi boiler.
You can do all seven yourself. Pilot light checks apply to older boilers only, since modern combi boilers light electronically. Never remove the boiler casing. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should carry out a boiler repair.
Boiler Broken Down? Book Your Repair
Tried the checks above and the boiler still won’t work? You can book a repair online. A Gas Safe registered engineer will look at the fault, so you never need to open the casing.
Who to Call If Your Boiler Stops Working
Who you call depends on your situation. If none of these applies, call a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Who Is Responsible for Fixing a Broken Boiler?
- Your boiler is under warranty: call the manufacturer or the installer. Have the model, serial number, and installation date ready. Many boiler warranty terms require an approved engineer, so check before you book anyone.
- You have a boiler cover or a home emergency policy: call your provider’s claim line. Have your policy number and the error code ready. Your home emergency cover has its own claim process, so use it first.
- You rent your home: tell your landlord or letting agent in writing and keep a dated copy. Landlords can take out landlord boiler cover to protect rented homes.
- You have no warranty or cover: book a Gas Safe registered engineer. Have the boiler’s make, model and error code ready.
When to Call a Gas Safe Registered Engineer
Call one if the checks do not get the boiler working, if the flame looks wrong or if the fault returns after one reset. The law requires a registered engineer for gas work, so never touch a gas part yourself.
Ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. The back lists the work they are qualified to do. You can also check any engineer on the Gas Safe Register or by calling 0800 408 5500.
How to Stay Warm When Your Boiler Is Broken
If you need to keep one room warm, you can add layers, blankets, and a safe electric heater to it until the boiler is repaired. Below are safe ways to do that, and extra help for people who are more at risk in the cold.
Safe Ways to Heat Your Home Without a Boiler
Layer clothing indoors and wear several thin layers, a hat, and socks. Close windows at night and use a rolled towel to seal the door draughts. A hot water bottle from the kettle will heat a bed, and a hot drink or meal will warm you quicker than a blanket.
Plug any electric heater straight into a wall socket and switch it off when you leave the room or go to bed. Overheating can occur with an extension of the lead. Avoid using gas hobs, barbecue or camping stoves or ovens as they release carbon monoxide.
Help for Vulnerable and Elderly People
Older people, babies, pregnant women and anyone with a health condition are more at risk when the heating is off, so get the boiler fixed as soon as you can. Move them into one warm room, keep hot drinks nearby, and give them extra layers and blankets.
If an older neighbour or relative lives alone, call or visit them while the heating is off. If someone feels very cold, drowsy or confused, get medical advice straight away. If someone at home is vulnerable, tell us when you call or book. We will try to get an engineer to you as soon as we can.
Is It Worth Fixing or Replacing a Broken Boiler?
Repair the boiler if it’s less than 10 years old and has only one problem. Change it if it is 10-15 years older or more and keeps having faults.
Replacement is a good idea if the boiler keeps breaking down, parts availability is the issue, or if the repair costs are close to the cost of a new boiler, this is called beyond economical repair. The older boiler also needs more fuel compared to the modern one, which means that this can help lower your bills as well.
If your boiler is not that much older and does not break down frequently than a boiler repair will generally cost much less than a new boiler installation. Boiler repair costs vary by the part and the make, and an engineer can quote after a diagnosis. If a new one is needed, boiler finance lets you spread the cost in monthly payments, subject to terms and conditions. Before you ask for quotes, it also helps to know which type of boiler you need.
How to Prevent a Boiler Breakdown
To avoid boiler breakdowns, it’s a must to have annual boiler service. The engineer examines the parts that wear out, tests the safety devices, and checks for small leaks and pressure loss before it affects the boiler. Many manufacturer’s warranties remain valid only if you have a service record, so if you miss a service, you may lose your warranty as well.
Book the boiler service in early autumn, before the heating runs every day. Engineers are easier to book than in the first cold week.
Book a Service to Avoid Another Breakdown
An annual boiler service checks the pressure, controls and worn parts. It can help spot problems early, before they stop your boiler from working. Book your service online.
Get Your Boiler Fixed and Be Ready for Next Time
If the boiler still won’t work after the checks, the fault needs an engineer. A one-off boiler repair from 24|7 Home Rescue is handled by a Gas Safe registered engineer, who finds the fault and can carry out the repair, with parts and labour included (subject to terms and conditions).
Before you get in touch, make sure you know the boiler make, model and error code. Members make a claim in the My247 app or call 0345 3192 247. If you are not a member, you can book the one-off repair. Need help with a claim or a booking? Contact us and the team will help.
Once the heating is back, think about cover for the next fault. Boiler breakdown cover pays for the repair when a covered fault happens. Knowing the cost in advance means one less bill to worry about if the heating stops.
Boiler Cover Ahead of the Next Breakdown
Get boiler breakdown or landlord cover, including a free annual boiler service, so the next fault can be fixed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does home insurance cover a broken boiler?
Usually not on its own. Standard home insurance generally does not cover a boiler breakdown. It only covers damage from things like fire or flooding. For breakdown, you need a boiler cover or home emergency add-on.
Can I get boiler cover if my boiler has already broken down?
Usually not for that fault. Providers exclude a fault that occurs prior to the beginning of your policy. A cover will protect you from future breakdowns, but you’ll need to get this one fixed first.
How long does it take to fix a broken boiler?
It depends on the fault. Some faults are quicker to fix than others, while a more complex one may take longer. The engineer can give you an estimate once they have checked the boiler.
Is a broken boiler dangerous?
No, not usually. Most boiler faults only stop your heating or hot water, but some signs mean you need to act straight away. If you smell gas, do not use light switches, electrical appliances or naked flames. Open doors and windows on your way out, get everyone out of the property straight away, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside.
At 24|7 Home Rescue, we aim to keep our blogs accurate and helpful at the time of publication. However, details such as images, services, prices, offers, discounts, or related information may change over time. Content is provided for general information only and should not be taken as professional advice. For appliance- or boiler-specific guidance, always refer to your manufacturer’s user manual, as controls, settings and features may vary by brand and model. For the latest updates on our services, prices, and any available offers or discounts, please review our Terms & Conditions or contact us directly. 24|7 Home Rescue accepts no liability for any actions taken based on outdated or incomplete content. Our team is always happy to help with any questions.
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