What Are the Most Common Boiler Problems?

The boiler is often an unspoken hero in our homes, supplying us with hot water and heating while we give it little thought.  Only when something goes wrong with it do we pay it much attention!  But there are some common problems that affect boilers that can lead to serious problems, especially in the winter.  So, what are the most common boiler problems and what should you do about them?

Leaks or dripping from the boiler

A leaking boiler is always a reason to call your British Gas boiler cover phone number or to contact whoever you have cover through.  Any leaks can be dangerous as the water is liable to be very hot and the mix with electricity very dangerous so never try to sort the problem yourself.  If you don’t have cover, call a Gas Safe engineer to look at it.

There are various reasons why boilers might leak.  The pipes connecting the water supply to the actual tank are the most common culprits.  These can degrade over time or may have a fault with their connections.  Sometimes the pressure of the system causes a weakness that allows water to drip out.

Weird noises

Boilers often make weird noises – whistling, banging, gurgling and more.  How loud and frequent those noises give you an idea how quickly to ring that phone number.  Occasional noises may just be part of the system but repeat noises or ones that are getting louder should definitely warrant an inspection.

One problem that leads to such noises is called kettling.  This means the water pressure is too low or the pump is failing in older systems and that the boiler isn’t working properly.  It does sound a lot like the noise a kettle makes when it boils.

Pilot light going out

Problems with your pilot light going out might not be an issue with the boiler but could be a sign of a gas leak.  In that case, you would ring your supplier, so the British Gas emergency phone number if you get your gas through them.  They will arrange an emergency engineer to visit to ensure you don’t have a gas leak.  

If you think there might be a gas leak, open as many windows as you can to let air into the house.  If people are experiencing any symptoms such as headaches or nausea, then try to get them outside the house.  Gas and carbon monoxide can lead to serious health problems and can even be fatal.

Radiators not working

If the boiler isn’t working properly, then this will often lead to the radiators not working properly.  Or sometimes, the problem can go the other way.  If there is air in the system, this can cause strange noises and stop the radiators working.  Or there might be a leak in the system somewhere you can’t see.  Whatever the case, it is another situation where a call to your British Gas boiler cover phone number is best to get someone to check the system for problems.