Smell gas?
Open windows, don't touch electrical switches, leave the property and call 0800 111 999 (National Gas Emergency Service, free 24/7).
Quick Checks
Try these before booking a callout. They fix most common boiler problems.
Thermostat
Is it set above room temperature? Is the timer on the right schedule?
Boiler pressure
Check the gauge. It should read between 1 and 1.5 bar. If it's below 1, repressure using the filling loop underneath the boiler.
Power supply
Has the boiler's fuse or circuit breaker tripped? Check your fuse box.
Reset
Hold the reset button for 5-10 seconds. Some faults are temporary and a reset clears them.
If none of that helped, read the detailed guides below or book a repair.
No hot water or heating
- Thermostat: Is it set above room temperature? Try turning it up a few degrees.
- Timer/programmer: Is it set to the right time and on the correct schedule?
- Boiler pressure: Check the gauge. It should read between 1 and 1.5 bar. If it's below 1, repressure using the filling loop.
- Power supply: Has the boiler's fuse or circuit breaker tripped? Check your fuse box.
- Gas supply: Are other gas appliances working (cooker, gas fire)? If nothing works, check your prepayment meter hasn't run out.
Boiler losing pressure
- Repressure: Find the filling loop. It's usually a silver braided hose or a small tap underneath the boiler (check your manual if you're not sure). Open it slowly until the gauge reads 1-1.5 bar, then close it.
- Check for leaks: Look under radiators, around valves, and under the boiler for any drips.
- Recently bled radiators? Bleeding radiators releases pressure. Repressure after bleeding.
If the pressure keeps dropping after repressuring, there's likely a leak somewhere in the system.
Boiler showing an error code
- Try a reset: Hold the reset button for 5-10 seconds. Some faults are temporary and a reset clears them.
- Check your manual: The error code meaning is listed in your boiler manual (most are also available online, just search your boiler model + error code).
- Persistent code? If the error keeps coming back after a reset, it needs professional diagnosis.
Don't keep resetting a boiler that keeps faulting, it could make the problem worse.
Strange noises (banging, kettling, gurgling)
- Banging/kettling: Usually caused by limescale buildup or sludge in the heat exchanger. Needs a powerflush or repair.
- Gurgling: Air trapped in the system. Try bleeding your radiators, starting with the one furthest from the boiler.
- Humming: Could be the pump running too fast. Adjusting pump speed may fix it, but this needs an engineer.
Noisy boilers rarely fix themselves.
Frozen condensate pipe (winter)
In cold weather, the condensate pipe (white plastic pipe running outside) can freeze:
- Pour warm water (not boiling) over the frozen section of the external pipe
- Reset the boiler once the pipe has thawed
- Insulate the pipe to prevent it happening again. Pipe lagging from any DIY shop works
If you can't find the pipe or it keeps freezing, I can reroute it to prevent future issues.
When to Call a Gas Engineer
If the checks above haven't solved the problem, it needs professional diagnosis. I'll find the fault, explain what's wrong, and give you the cost to fix it before starting any work. No surprises.
I cover Haverhill, Saffron Walden, Newmarket, Sudbury, Cambridge and 10 more surrounding areas across Suffolk, Essex & Cambridgeshire.