By Your central heating system is a vital part of your home, keeping you warm and with a plentiful supply of hot water. For the vast majority of the time, it’ll run quietly and efficiently just as it’s supposed to – especially if you book in regular servicing and maintenance.
But sometimes, things can go wrong. Components can fail and systems can degrade, and you may not notice a major problem at first. Over time though, a minor and easily fixable issue can turn into a full system shutdown.
This is why it’s important to familiarise yourself with the common warning signs of heating system problems. So if you notice any of the below, it’s time to call in a heating engineer right away.
1. Odd Noises
Have you noticed your boiler making gurgling, whistling, clanging or banging noises recently? This could be a sign of something amiss, especially if these are new sounds you’ve not heard before.
Possible causes of these strange new noises could be:
- Limescale buildup
- Air trapped in the system
- Faulty components in the boiler
- Issues with radiators.
Whatever’s going on, it’s a good idea to have a heating engineer check things out. Otherwise, the problem could get worse and lead to a costly repair bill. Besides that, it’ll be good to have those annoying noises dealt with.
2. Pilot Light Problems
If the pilot light on your boiler is flickering, turns yellow or keeps going out, call in a Gas Safe certified engineer right away. It could be an indicator that something is wrong with the combustion process within the boiler, and this can be dangerous. It could lead to carbon monoxide leaks and even a risk of fire or explosion.
For reference, a healthy pilot light should be a steady blue flame that doesn’t flicker or go out.
3. A Sudden Increase in Energy Bills
If your energy bills have shot up recently, and are not in line with your provider’s price rises, it could be a sign that something’s not quite right with your heating system. A sudden spike in bills could mean a drop in the efficiency of your central heating system.
Your boiler could have a worn-out component, clogged filters, or another problem limiting its efficiency. Before your energy bills really start to skyrocket, it’s best to call in a professional.
4. Inconsistent Heating Between Rooms
Noticed a change in how warm or cold some rooms feel, even if you haven’t touched any settings on your thermostat? Uneven heating could be a sign of a problem like an airlock in the system or a faulty pump, both of which can stop hot water circulating properly throughout your radiators.
5. Low Boiler Pressure
Low boiler pressure is a common complaint, and it can have an easy resolution in some cases. It happens when you bleed radiators, or if you’ve removed and replaced a radiator recently. For either of these scenarios, all you need to do is top up the pressure to the recommended level using the filling loop on the boiler.
There are other causes of low pressure though, and these are harder to fix. If you haven’t bled or replaced a radiator recently – or you’ve topped up the pressure and it’s dropped again – then it could mean you have a leak. Another potential culprit could be a malfunctioning pressure relief valve. For either of these, you’ll need a Gas Safe heating engineer to take a look.
6. A Puddle of Water Underneath the Boiler
A puddle of water just below the boiler is a rather obvious sign of a problem. But it can often go unnoticed, as boilers tend to be tucked away in cupboards and only looked at when there’s an issue.
It means that the boiler or associated pipework is leaking, and this will need fixing by a qualified professional.
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