Most homes rely on a boiler to heat their water and keep the house toasty, welcoming and warm so when something goes wrong, the effects can be widespread.
While there are many things that can go wrong with a boiler, and you should never delay in calling out an engineer, there are isolated occasions when it’s possible to take a look at the problem yourself. A boiler with little or no pressure is easy to diagnose and in some cases, just as easy to fix. We take a closer look at how you could remedy this issue.
Why is boiler pressure important?
To help you solve the problems in your central heating system, it’s necessary to understand the importance that the right water pressure levels play.
In order to function continuously, a boiler requires constant water pressure; without this it won’t be able to work. In the vast majority of modern combo boilers this pressure is maintained by the inflow of cold water from the mains supply. This enters via a part of the system known as the filling loop. If there is a leak anywhere in the system, it can cause the pressure to plummet.
Bleeding radiators can be another temporary contributing factor. The loss of water does not have to be substantial; even the smallest water leak can be sufficient to upset the carefully balanced boiler pressure. Although its nor helpful in the event that your system isn’t working, regular commercial boiler servicing is a very good idea to help prevent breakdowns from occurring. The only sure-fire way of being certain whether there is a problem with the water pressure is to check the gauge.
Checking and solving the problem, when boiler has no pressure
If you have a water pressure gauge, the process for checking it can be relatively easy. It is normally located on the front plate of the boiler for easy access. You should check to see where the pressure is set at; most systems normally operate at around “1”.You may also see a red indicator needle; this is telling you the position when the boiler was installed. This gauge can be particularly revealing if you watch for signs of any problems. Repeated drops in pressure indicate that there is an issue with the boiler pressure and action is required.
Every boiler is different and not all can be re-pressurised by someone other than a trained engineer. The manual which came with the boiler when it was fitted will let you know whether you can attempt to fix it yourself. You might also see additional instructions along with a serial number printed on the inside of your control panel.
One word of warning
If your panel does not easily come off and you need tools to get inside, don’t be tempted to proceed any further. All repairs of this kind should only be attempted by a qualified engineer.
If you have tried to re-pressurise your boiler following the instructions in the book and your boiler has no pressure, you should make an appointment to get a professional boiler repair carried out.
Your boiler is far too important to jeopardise anything serious going wrong, and in many cases a lack of pressure can be quickly and easily resolved if you know what to look for. Call a professional engineer like us here at Priory Gas Heating and you could be back to full working order before you know it.
