Realising that you have no hot water is inconvenient at any time of the year, but it is especially problematic when the temperatures are low. If you have a problem with your boiler, you need to call a gas safe engineer, but before you do, there are a few things that you could check.
Pilot light
Have a look at your boiler and see if the pilot light has gone out. If it has, you have found the source of your problem. You may be able to relight it yourself; just follow the manufacturer’s instructions (if you don’t have the paperwork, an online search should help). If the flame keeps going out, get in touch with a boiler specialist. If you smell gas, open all windows, leave the house and call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999.
Power
If your pilot light looks fine, then the problem could be to do with power. Check to see that other appliances are working and, if they are, take a look at your fuse board to see if the fuse linked to your boiler has tripped.
Water pressure
A boiler depends on adequate water pressure, so there is a chance that water pressure could be the problem, particularly if you have had issues with water supply recently. Check the pressure gauge on your boiler; the needle should be between 1 and 1.5. If the pressure is below that level, that could be your problem.
Boiler settings
Your boiler can only do what you tell it to do. Check to see if you have accidentally set your boiler on a timer or the temperature is set below 21℃; some boilers don’t work properly below a certain temperature.
Frozen condensate pipe
If you have experienced cold weather, then it is possible that your boiler’s condensate pipe has frozen. If you can safely access your condensate pipe, you can try to defrost it yourself using warm water (NOT boiling) or a hot water bottle. A Ziploc bag filled with warm water does the trick, too.
Resetting your boiler
Sometimes, the problem may be as simple as switching it off and switching it on again. If this doesn’t work, you can check your manufacturer’s information to see if you can reset the boiler. Sometimes, the reset button is easily accessible, but with some models you will need a gas engineer to do it for you.
When it comes to boilers, it is wise to be extra cautious. If you are not sure what you are doing or if you have any concerns at all about the safety of your boiler or any other gas appliances, get in touch with a local approved engineer.
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