5 Ways to Check Your Boiler Before Calling An Engineer

Is your boiler not working? It is easy to panic and call a gas engineer to resolve the problem. However, it might not be necessary to seek a professional.

The fact is that minor boiler issues may arise from time to time. Therefore, you should be able to fix the problem on your own before contacting an expert.

Besides, being able to check your boiler to see if the issue can be resolved will help you save money. After all, having an engineer over every time your boiler stops working can be expensive, especially when the ever-increasing gas safety certificate costs.

Here are some ways you can check your boiler to identify the issues before you call a professional.

1. Check the Boiler Thermostat

If you just got a gas safety check, but your boiler is failing to fire up, you might want to check the boiler thermostat and timer. If you have recently experienced a power cut or tripped your circuit, there is a possibility that the boiler thermostat and timer have been reset. .

Even though the boiler might not be working, chances are that it is unable to turn on or off the heating at the right time. Hence, you need to check the time on the thermostat and the timer to ensure it is correct. .

If the previous settings have been changed, you will need to reprogram them. Also, you should check the room thermostat to ensure it is correct, as it should alert the boiler to heat your house. The room thermostat must be set over 21 degrees. If you still experience issues, you must replace the thermostat’s batteries.

2. Check the Boiler Pressure

When the pressure is too low, your boiler will fail to work. Combi boilers are more likely to experience this problem. The best way to ensure your boiler is up to mark is to get a gas certificate. Paying a gas safety certificate cost is much more affordable than boiler repair or replacement costs.

However, at times you can fix the issue yourself by trying out the following:

• Access the boiler control panel to check the pressure dial or gauge.
• The pressure has to be set at one bar. Your boiler won’t work if it is any lower.
• You can use the filling loop to increase the boiler pressure. It is located at the bottom.
• Now, you must turn off the boiler.
• Check the hoses to determine if there are any leaks at the ends.
• Next, open the valves and listen to the water filling up..
• Close the valves when the pressure gauge reaches 1.5.
• Turn on the boiler.

The above should help resolve the boiler pressure issues.

3. Bleed the Radiators

If your radiator cannot heat up properly, you may think your boiler is damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, that is not always the case, and bleeding the radiators should help you out.

Here’s how you can do this.

• Switch off the central heating to ensure the radiator cools down.
• Place the radiator key in the radiator valve.
• Turn the radiator key anticlockwise and place a bucket or cloth underneath for water to fall out.
• As air escapes, you will hear a hissing sound.
• As water emerges, you should immediately close the valve.

Now that the trapped air has been removed from the radiator, it should be able to heat up fully. Therefore, you can turn the central heating back on.

4. Check the Diverter Valve

Are you unable to get hot water even when your combi boiler is switched on? The diverter valve, the apparatus responsible for switching between hot water and heating, might be the problem. .

There is a possibility that the valve might be stuck. It would help to turn the central heating to the maximum to get hot water. However, you will have to seek an expert if the boiler doesn’t fire up for hot water because of a faulty diverter.

5. Check the Electrical Lines and Fittings

Does your boiler have no power? An electrical fault might be to blame. Luckily, you should be able to fix the problem on your own.

Your boiler’s fuse might have blown up. Every boiler has a fuse to prevent electrical surges from causing harm to the internal components. If there is a fluctuation in the current, the fuse blows up to break the circuit to protect the rest of the boiler. Therefore, replacing the fuse will get your boiler working again.

If your fuse has been damaged, it indicates that your electrical lines or fittings are not installed correctly. Ill-fitted electrical wirings can cause short circuits, power surges, etc., damaging your appliances. The safety engineers check the wiring during the CP12 inspection, but you may have to call the engineer again if the issue persists.

Conclusion for 5 Ways to Check Your Boiler before Calling an Engineer

Before you call an engineer to check your boiler, you should try to resolve the problem on your own. After all, you don’t want to spend more money on top of the gas safety certificate cost. Although the above tips will work 99% of the time, you must call an expert if they don’t work. Calling an engineer to be on the safe side is also recommended.