How to get your boiler back up and running

Do you have a fault?  Here is how we can help

Many issues and faults can easily be rectified without the need to call an engineer. We’ve compiled a handy list of tips and helpful hints, and by following the information and simple instructions below you may get your issue resolved in a few minutes.

No Central Heating or Hot Water

  • Are there lights or warning symbols on the boiler? Check the boiler is switched on at the boiler and the wall socket or fused spur. If the fused spur/ socket is switched off, switch it back on and reset the boiler.
  • Check the boiler pressure is between 1.5 and 2 bar. Top up the pressure if required.
  • Check you have gas supply. If you have a gas hob or oven, you can check by switching these on.
  • If you have a prepaid gas meter, it’s always best to check that you haven’t exhausted your gas credit. It may be that your meter and card need topping up. If so, you will have to purge the gas pipe. This is done by switching the boiler off and on 6 to 8 times to draw the gas to the boiler. If you have a gas hob light 1 ring, this will help draw the gas to the boiler quicker.
  • Switch the boiler off at the boiler and isolate the main power switch, this will close the boiler down. Leave it  in this mode for 10 seconds to reboot the boiler. Once completed, set the isolation switch and boiler to on, and press the reset button for 8 seconds now call for central heating or hot water. (I’m not sure what “call for central heating or hot water” is meant to say as well)
  • Check your thermostat or programmer is calling for central heating or hot water and that they  are timed to be calling for central heating/hot water.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845.  

No Central Heating

  • Check the boiler controls are set for the central heating to be on.
  • Check the thermostat/programmer are set at the required temperature.
  • Is the thermostat battery-operated? If so, you may need to change the batteries. The  thermostat may not show the low battery symbol but our experience has shown that there may not be enough strength in the batteries send a signal to the boiler.
  • Please change the batteries using a good quality product.      
  • Once the batteries have been changed  we may need to synchronise or pair up the thermostat to the boiler.
  • This can be carried out simply by taking the thermostat to the boiler and pressing the reset button on the boiler, then on the thermostat set the temperature to the highest setting, followed by the lowest. Next, reset the boiler then call for central heating on the room thermostat , ensuring that it is timed to be on and set the temperature high.
  • Check all hot water taps are closed and not dripping.  If the taps are open the boiler will not produce central heating as hot water has priority.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845. 

No Hot Water

  • Check the boiler pressure is at 1.5 to 2 bar and top up the pressure if required.
  • Check the hot water thermostat on the boiler is set to high and adjust if required.
  • Run the hot water tap slightly slower to get hot water.
  • If applicable and the diverter valve is external, check the operating lever is free and not jammed. This lever can be moved up or down as required.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845.  

No Lights on the Boiler

  • Check the boiler pressure and it is between 1.5 bar and 2 bar.n some boilers if the pressure is low, no lights appear on the boiler screen.
  • Check the boiler and isolation switch are in the on position.
  • If you still have no power to the boiler check the main fuse box has not tripped to the off position. If the fuse box has tripped, reset the fuse box and check you have power to the boiler.
  • If you still have no power,  Check if your isolation switch is a fused spur. If it has a fuse, try and change the fuse using a 3 amp rated fuse.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845.  

Room Thermostat Faults

  • Check that your room thermostat/ timer is switched on and set at your required settings. If not, switch the room thermostat and timer on and adjust to your required settings.
  • If your thermostat is battery-operated, you may need to change the batteries. Replace the batteries with a good quality product.
  • Once you have changed the batteries and still have no central heating you will need to synchronise the room thermostat and central heating boiler.This is done by taking the thermostat to the central heating boiler, pressing the reset button on the boiler, then increasing the temperature on the thermostat to the highest value before reducing it to the lowest value.  Next, reset the boiler and check that the thermostat is set to be on and is calling for heat.
  • Switch off the central heating boiler leave it in this mode for 10 seconds.
  • Switch the boiler on and press the reset button.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845.  

Electrical Faults

  • Determine if there is a total loss of power. If  there has been a power failure in the whole street, call your electrical supplier and report power outage.
  • Unplug  the last appliance that was being used and reset the fuse box.
  • What was the last room the appliance was being used in? It could be a faulty socket,  which can then be isolated and we would have power in the remainder of the house.
  • If the fuse box will not reset, check if  have any external power sources such as garages, sheds, fish ponds, jacuzzis, or external lights. Isolate all external power sources and reset the fuse box.
  • Remove every plug from each  socket, reset the fuse box, then  replace the plugs one by one. This may identify an appliance or socket fault.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845.  

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

  • Your carbon monoxide will alarm in 2 ways. If the alarm noise is a single, intermittent beep, this can be a signal to change the batteries. Some CO alarms have a lifespan and if you are unable to change the batteries in this case, you may need to change the CO alarm itself.
  • If your CO alarm is making a constant noise then please take the alarm outside the property and reset it. To do this, switch the alarm off, then  after 10 seconds switch it back on. Once the alarm has stopped ringing, take it back into the house, put it back in its former place, and monitor it.
  • If the alarm does not ring then leave it in its place  and observe. , It might just needed to be reset.
  • When the alarm has been refitted  and again it starts to ring , switch off the boiler to cut off the CO production.

With the boiler switched off please call the National Gas Emergency Service at 0800 111 999.

Blocked Internal Drains

  • For a blocked sink drain, you can use a drain snake which can be purchased in a hardware store. Push and twist the drain snake down the plug hole. This may clear any blockage in the pipe and u bend. When you remove the drain snake the substance that may have caused the blockage could be attached to its end.
  • A drain unblocker can also be used.  Pour the liquid down the drain, and leave overnight. Please make sure you  always follow the product safety instructions.
  • DO NOT USE a drain unblocker if have already used other brands of chemicals.This would be dangerous as you would be mixing chemicals.
  • A drain plunger can also be used to clear the blockage.
  • Pour a bucket of warm, soapy water down the plug hole to assist in clearing the blockage.
  • For blocked toilets, try using a plunger or a drain unblocker poured into the toilet and left to soak overnight. Please make sure you follow the products safety instructions.
  • Try pouring a bucket of warm soapy water down the toilet as this may help dislodge the blockage.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845.  

Radiator not Heating

  • If one of your radiators is not heating, try closing down all the other radiators except the faulty one plus one other radiator  by switching off the thermostatic radiator valve (TRV)
  • Switch on your central heating and keep it on for an hour, opening and closing the TRV regularly during this time This may release a jammed TRV.

If the above guide fails and you have a policy with us, please call us at 0800 085 0845.  


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