What Are The Problems Boilers Might Have in The Winter?
It’s hardly surprising that winter is the time of year when your boiler is working at its hardest, and as such it’s the time of year that it’s most likely to develop a fault or suffer a breakdown. It’s a very worrying situation, as your source of heating and hot water has just packed in during a cold spell and boiler repairs can often cost a small fortune.
If you know what the most common Winter boiler problems, faults and causes of breakdown are, and also how to minimise the risks or prevent them, this can remove some of the stress and panic. Here’s a few of the most common problems you could face in Winter with your boiler, as well as some simple preventative measures that you can undertake before the problems arise.
Problem 1 - The Pilot Light Going Out
One of the most common problems with a boiler is the pilot light extinguishing, or going out. Most often, the pilot light goes out because of a blockage or because of a problem with the ignition system. You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions to get the pilot light working again, but if this process fails to reignite it, you may need to get more serious repairs.
Problem 2 - Frozen Pipes
Water freezes in winter, we all know that. Exterior pipes are vulnerable to low temperatures and if water in these pipes freezes, it won’t be able to reach the boiler and so there’ll be no hot water coming from the taps or going into the radiators. If your exterior pipes are frozen, you should call in a professional rather than try to thaw them out by yourself, to avoid further damage.
Problem 3 - Sludge Accumulation or Build-Up
Sediment can accumulate in parts of the boiler and this can lead to poor circulation of water in the system. This sediment can cause your heating system to be less efficient. Blockages caused by sludge or sediment need to be cleaned by professionals, so don’t attempt to carry out this procedure yourself.
Problem 4 - Strange Sounds Coming from the Boiler
When you fire up your boiler in the autumn, there might be a few weird bangs or groans caused by sludge. This sludge build-up leads to the uneven movement and distribution of water which in turn leads to improper functioning and overheating. This is a job for the professionals and should be done before the boiler actually stops working.
Problem 5 - Topsy-Turvy Weather
Our winters are becoming more and more unpredictable. We have warm winters and so don’t use our boilers as much. We forget about maintaining the boiler during this warm winter, when we get hit by a really bad winter the next year. Routine boiler maintenance should be just that – routine – your boiler should be checked every year, and any routine jobs, like clearing out sludge, should be done yearly.
Problem 6 - From Zero to Hero and Back Again
Many households leave their boiler lying idle for eight or nine months of the year, then whack the thermostat up as soon as they see that first frost. This is not a good way to do things. You should ease your boiler into full-time operation before you really need the heat. This acts as a warm-up and lets you spot any potential problems early so that you can get them fixed in good time.
Rug Up Your Pipes
Whatever the time of year, it’s always a good idea to think about insulating your pipes. Insulating pipes will help your boiler to run that little bit better, because the water being fed into it will be a few degrees above freezing. The insulation also helps to prevent the dreaded freezing when the mercury really is low.
Problem 7 - Boiler Under Pressurised
Always monitor the pressure levels in your boiler. You can do this by checking the pressure gauge, which is usually on the front of modern boilers. If the pressure is too high or too low it can prevent your boiler from working efficiently, or it can cause it to cut out. It’s worth keeping a close eye on.
Full Metal Jacket (Insulation for your pipes)
It’s not just your external pipes that need to be insulated. You should insulate, or lag, internal pipes and your water tank, if you have one. Tank jackets don’t cost much and help to keep your hot water hot for longer, which benefits the entire system. A small investment in lagging can save you a fortune in the long run – especially when you consider that boilers have a habit of breaking down just before Christmas!
Problem 8 - Hard Water in Your Area? Hard Luck
Some areas of the UK have very hard water and an increasingly popular piece of kit is a scale guard or a water softener. If you’re in a hard water area you’ll be prone to lime scale on your kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Lime scale not only looks unsightly but it’s actually a real problem for any appliance that uses mains water. Water conditioners help to prevent a build-up of lime scale and can therefore help to keep boilers – and washing machines – run properly for longer.
If you do find that you happen to experience one of these common Winter boiler problems with your heating, why not use our free services to get up to 4 quotes for heating and plumbing repairs?
