Boiler Repair in South Tyneside

What a boiler repair involves

A boiler repair starts with working out why the boiler has stopped or is misbehaving. That means reading any fault code, looking at the pressure, watching how the boiler behaves when it tries to fire, and testing the parts likely to be involved.

Once we have found the fault, we explain what has failed, what the repair involves and whether any parts are needed, then carry out the work once you have agreed to it.

Some faults need a replacement part for your particular make and model, and where that applies, we talk through what it means for the repair.

Common boiler faults

Common causes of a boiler losing pressure include a weeping radiator valve, a failed pressure relief valve and a leak inside the boiler casing. Topping the pressure up can get the heating going for a while, but if the gauge keeps falling, something is letting water out.

A boiler that will not light may have an ignition fault, a gas valve fault or a problem with the flame sensor. Condensing boilers drain their waste water through a plastic pipe, and where that pipe runs outside it can freeze in a hard frost and shut the boiler down.

Other faults worth mentioning when you call include banging or kettling noises, hot water that only runs lukewarm, and a boiler that locks out again soon after a reset.

Simple things to look at first

Before calling, spend a minute on a few simple checks. Make sure the boiler has power and the gas is on at the meter. Look at the pressure gauge: on a sealed system it usually sits somewhere around 1 to 1.5 bar when the heating is cold. Then check the thermostat is set high enough to call for heat and the programmer has not lost its settings after a power cut.

Annual boiler servicing

A yearly service gives a heating engineer the chance to look over the boiler's safety devices, burner, flue and seals while it is still running normally, rather than after it has broken down.

Autumn is a sensible time for a service, before the heating starts working its hardest. A boiler that has sat idle through the summer can show a fault on the first cold morning it is asked to run.

Your boiler paperwork may set out servicing conditions from the manufacturer, so it is worth a look. When you book, ask what the service covers for your particular boiler.

Repair or replace?

Not every boiler is worth repairing. If parts are hard to get, the boiler is very old, or the same fault keeps coming back, we will talk you through the options, and those can include a new boiler.

Boilers in South Tyneside homes

Combi boilers are common in terraced houses and smaller semis where space is tight. Larger semis, detached houses and some older properties still run a system or regular boiler with a cylinder in an airing cupboard, and sometimes a cold water tank in the loft.

Homes close to the coast can see more corrosion on flue terminals and outside pipework from the salt air, so it helps to mention if your boiler flue faces the sea.

Gas smells and carbon monoxide alarms

If you smell gas near the boiler, do not switch anything on or off, open the windows, turn the supply off at the meter if you can do so safely and phone the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999 from outside.

That same number, 0800 111 999, is the one to ring if a carbon monoxide alarm goes off: turn the appliance off if you can, get into fresh air and leave the property.