3 min read
No heating or hot water: what to check before you call
When the heating stops, a few quick checks sometimes find a simple cause. Anything beyond them is a job for a qualified engineer.
Safe checks you can make
- 1Check the thermostat and programmer: are they on, set to heating, and set to a temperature above the room's current temperature?
- 2Check the boiler has power and that the display is not showing a fault code. Note any code, as the engineer will want to know.
- 3If your boiler has a pressure gauge, see whether the needle is in the range marked on it. Low pressure is a common reason for a boiler to stop.
- 4Check whether other gas appliances, such as the hob, are working, which can tell you if the gas supply is the problem.
- 5In freezing weather, a frozen condensate pipe can stop some boilers. Only thaw it if you know how to do so safely.
Leave these to an engineer
- Anything inside the boiler casing
- Gas pipework and gas valves
- Repeated loss of pressure
- Strange noises, smells or leaks from the boiler
- Radiators that stay cold at the bottom or top after bleeding
Good to know about cover
Our plan helps with loss of heating, radiators, controls, thermostats and circulation pump faults. Boiler parts and repairs are not covered and may be chargeable. If so, you get a quote first and agree the cost before work starts.
General guidance only, not a substitute for advice from a qualified engineer. If you are in any doubt, stop and ask a professional.