Boiler not working?
Five easy boiler fixes to try before calling an engineer.
1. Double check the basics
First of all, if you have a prepayment meter, check that you’ve got enough credit. Next, test whether your other gas appliances, like your cooker hob, are working correctly, or whether the switches in your fuse box have tripped.
2. Think back to if you’ve had a power cut recently
If you have, your boiler’s timer might have reset - which means getting it working again could be as simple as re-programming it with your times. Take a look at its instruction manual for a reminder on how to do this.
3. Check your boiler’s pressure gauge
If it’s showing a reading of one bar or less, low pressure could be the reason why your boiler’s not working. Topping up the pressure yourself is usually straightforward - follow the steps in your boiler’s manual or watch our how-to video.
4. Turn your room thermostat to 21 degrees or higher
Having your room thermostat set lower than 21 degrees can stop your heating from coming on, so turn it higher to see If your boiler starts working again.
5. Reset your boiler, or check that its pilot light is on
Finally, try resetting your boiler according to its instructions. If yours was made pre-2004 it’s likely to have a pilot light instead of a reset function, so check that the pilot light is on. If it’s not, you may be able to relight it yourself according to its manual.
Still no heating or hot water?
If these steps didn’t bring your boiler back to life, we can help. Whether you’re a British Gas customer or not, simply book one of our engineers to get it sorted.
Don’t forget, a regular boiler service is one of the best ways to reduce the chance of breakdowns, as well as to check that it’s working safely.