How to Fix Your Boiler
It’s not necessary to call an engineer every time your boiler is acting up. Sometimes, boilers can be fixed quite easily. However, to learn how to fix your boiler, you need to understand how boilers work. If our boiler repair tips don’t work, you can always ask for emergency boiler repairs help. In this blog post, we will explain how boilers work and how you can fix them. So keep reading to learn more.
How Do Boilers Work?
A steam heating system consists of a boiler and pipes that run across your residence. The boiler heats the water, and the steam is sent out through pipes around your home. The steam warms the walls of your house, ultimately warming your home during winter. The main parts of a boiler are pressure-relief valves, pressure gauges, a regulator, and a low-water cutoff monitor. Modern boilers have an automatic feed that supplies more water when needed.
How to Fix Your Boiler
Boilers are easy to fix, and with a bit of elbow grease, you will be able to repair it yourself. Here are a few common problems with boilers that you can easily fix.
1. Repressurise Your Boiler
There is a water pressure indicator in the front of your boiler. It will be a small gauge that has numbers and a needle. Look closely and see where the needle stands. If the pressure indicator is below 1, your boiler pressure is very low. You fix this by finding the boiler loop (mostly at the bottom of the unit). Ensure the boiler isn’t running, and the ends of the valves are attached to the hose. Open the valves, and you can hear the water filling up your boiler. Keep filling your boiler until the pressure indicator reaches 1.5. This should fix most of your heating problems.
2. Reset Your Boiler
When your boiler is old or running for too long, it tends to heat up, and its systems start to malfunction. You don’t need to call a repairman to fix this problem. Just read the boiler manual and find the reset button. Hold the button for 10 seconds to shut down the system and initiate a restart. This should fix the problem; however, if you are still facing issues with your boiler, try resetting your boiler again. Sometimes, the boiler system doesn’t properly shut down, so the second time you reset your boiler, it will probably start working.
3. Fix Your Radiator
If heat isn’t being equally distributed in your house, then the problem is with your radiator. Find the radiator that’s not working efficiently. Turn off your central heating system and allow the radiator to cool down. Insert the radiator key in the valve on your radiator. Turn the key anti-clockwise, and you will hear a hissing sound. This is the sound of gas escaping, so don’t be alarmed. After the hissing sound stops, close the valve, and your radiator is good to go.
4. Change Thermostat Battery
Most people forget to occasionally check their thermostat batteries. This leads to confusion, and you start blaming your new boiler for not heating the house up. However, you can quickly fix this problem by removing the thermostat from the wall mount and turning it over to find battery slots. Most thermostats need 2 x AAA batteries; however, if you see that these batteries aren’t a match, you will probably need 2 x AAA batteries. After adding the batteries, put the thermostat back in its place, and things should go back to normal. Don’t worry about the low battery sign, as it will take a few days for it to disappear.
Final Thoughts
Repairing your boiler isn’t rocket science. Most households in the UK repair their boilers themselves. However, if you can’t find the root cause of the problem or the issue keeps coming back, maybe it’s a good idea to get your boiler checked by a professional. Sometimes, the internal parts of the boiler stop functioning, and there is nothing much you can do about it yourself – unless you know how to restore a boiler.
