Boiler Breakdown Advice

Common Boiler Breakdown Problems

I have listed a few of the most common boiler breakdown problems below to help get the boiler back up and working.

• You wake up one morning expecting to jump in the shower only to find you have no hot water.

You check the boiler and notice a fault code is showing on the display. 

So what do you do?

• You need to find out what the fault code is and why it has made the boiler breakdown.
• All boilers are supplied with a users manual.
• inside the manual will be listed all the fault codes, the reason for the code to display.

The fault code reason is only a guide on what to check for. 

• Sometimes it can be a combination of problems, but it’s a starting point to try and trace the problem.
• Sometimes it’s a quick fix just by pushing the reset button.
• Other times it can be a bit more involved.
• Most boiler breakdown fault codes can be avoided.

Just by maintaining your boiler on a regular basis.

• All boiler manufactures recommend having a boiler service carried out each year.
• To keep the boiler working as it was designed for.
• A boiler is just like a car engine, if left un-serviced, it will eventually breakdown.
• It could possibly be costly to repair.

One of the most common boiler problems is low water pressure. 

• This is caused by the water within the whole of the system dropping.
• The pressure drops to a point where the boiler sensor senses low water.
• Then throws up a fault code that locks the boiler out.

Low water pressure can mean many things. 

• it could be a leak somewhere on the system.
• Radiator valves leaking even a leak on a pipe somewhere.

The most common answer to this problem is the expansion vessel. 

• If your boiler has been working with no problems for the last couple of years.
• Then all of a sudden you notice the water pressure needs to be topped up every now and then.

The chances are the expansion vessel needs checking.

• The expansion vessel is like a balloon. 
• Over time it will lose its pressure and water will enter the vessel.
• Once this happens you may have a boiler breakdown with a fault code displaying on the boiler screen.

The expansion vessel is a very important part of the boiler.

• It needs to be maintained each year.
• Another common boiler breakdown is dirty water.
• This is caused when no inhibitor is added to the system water.

You may have noticed if you have ever vented a radiator.

• The water is very dirty when it comes out of the vent. 
• This normally indicates no inhibitor within the system, even if the inhibitor was added.
• Over time it will dilute down and lose its protection, it will need to be topped up.
• It needs to be checked every year without fail.

The dirty water will eventually block up the boiler heat exchanger, 

• This will cause the boiler to overheat and go to lockout.
• Have you ever encounter a boiler breakdown when it’s snowing outside even freezing?
• Most boilers these days are condensing boilers, and when the boiler is working it produces condense.

The condense needs to exit into a drain, internally is preferable.

• Sometimes the condense pipe goes to an outside drain.
• If this is the case the pipe needs to be protected from the cold with pipe lagging.
• Should the condense pipe freeze over.
• Condense will start to back up into the boiler, and eventually, the boiler will breakdown.
• A fault code will be displayed on the boiler display.
• These are just a couple of the most common boiler breakdown faults that could be avoided,

If only you had the boiler serviced.

• Boilers do breakdown even when serviced each year.
• Not as much as a boiler not serviced.
• Always have your boiler serviced each year by a Gas Safe Registered company.
• Don’t use Joe Bloggs from down the road just because he is cheaper.
• All Gas Safe Engineers have to re-sit their gas exams every five years to be able to carry on working within the gas industry.
• I hope this advice helps you in keeping your boiler working and
• producing all the heat and hot water you need.

• Why do boilers breakdown?
• Typical Boiler Problems
• Vaillant Eco-Tec Fault Code F 75
• Winter Boiler Break Downs Explained
• Vaillant Fault Codes Explained