You never think about your gas appliances or central heating systems until they stop working. Suddenly, you wish that you knew more about how your house is heated and what to do about it. It’s important to know what heating and plumbing issues can be fixed at home and when an experienced expert needs to be called.
Here are the top 5 reasons that gas engineers or boiler experts are called up so that you know who to call and what service you are looking for.
- Gas appliances breaking down
Gas appliances in your home are one of the most important mechanisms in your home – they are how you cook your meals for your friends and family. So, it’s usually chaos when these things break. For this reason, it’s useful to know about what has gone wrong, and what needs to be fixed.
Usually, it’s the cooktop elements that are not lighting up or the oven not getting hot. This normally means that it is the ignition system that has broken.
Sometimes, the problem with stove burners can be easily fixed – try cleaning the burner on your stove. With a stuff brush, clean the igniter then try cleaning the burner hole with a small, thin object like a needle or toothpick.
If the cleaning has not fixed the stove, it means there’s a larger issue. To check if there is a problem with the gas line, turn off the burner knob halfway and hold a butane lighter flame near the burner. If there is no flame, then this means that something is not working and you must call a gas safe registered engineer to solve the issue.
- No heating or hot water
Another common issue is that there is no hot water or heating at all. This causes many problems around the house, from having to have cold showers, to living in a freezing house through the depts of winter.
There are many reasons why this could happen. The easiest solution – and one that anyone could do – is to check the thermostat. Look to see if this is working effectively and if you cannot see an issue, then look at the valves, airlocks and diaphragms. Often, when a part of the central heating system is broken, it’s one of these smaller elements that need replacing. Once this is done, your boiler and heating should be working perfectly.
However, sometimes it is the boiler itself that has broken down. If this is the case, call up a registered boiler service company. They will be able to let you know if you require a boiler repair or a full boiler replacement. Sometimes, when your boiler is old and run down, or has not had enough servicing, a new boiler installation in Poole is necessary. For boiler installations, we suggest looking at Senior Plumbing and heating who are known for providing some of the best boiler installations in Poole and even throughout the UK There are lots of options of boiler types to chose from which will guarantee you hot water in your showers and radiators for years to come.
- Leaking water
If a boiler is leaking water, you should attempt to determine where the leak is coming from to find out what the cause of it is. Most commonly, the leak happens from a broken part inside the boiler, like the pressure valve or pump seal. Where the leak comes from also determines how serious the problem is.
If the leak is from the pressure valve, the boiler pressure was too high – this can be easily altered. However, if the leak is coming from the pump seal, it means that you require a boiler replacement. A new boiler is also needed when the leak comes from around the tank or the pipes. When this is the case, it’s normally due to corrosion that cannot be reversed or because our boiler was fitted badly when you originally got it installed.
- Unusual boiler noise
Many people call up gas engineers or plumbers if they hear an abnormal noise coming from their boiler – this is the right thing to do. The reason for this is that strange noises coming from boilers are a sign of a worrying problem. So, if you notice anything other than its usual low hum, then call a gas engineer straight away, we advise using Elgar Heating and Plumbing services, who have some of the best gas engineers in Worcester.
Now, different noises mean there are different issues at hand. A whistling sound means that there is air trapped in the pipes of the boiler itself. Most of the time this can be fixed by bleeding the radiators.
Gurgling noises, however, mean that there is probably a frozen pipe somewhere in your system, meaning that the flow of hot water is blocked and disrupted. A gas safety registered plumber or gas engineer can locate the frozen pipe and sort out the problem.
- Radiators not heating up
During the winter, there is nothing worse than feeling the cold and discovering that your radiators are not hot. Most of the time, it is due to a build-up of sludge or air in the system.
If you find that it’s only the bottom of the radiator that is heating up, then it needs bleeding. This, you can do without calling in a professional. This is the same when you find that some radiators are hot but some never heat up. If this happens, adjust the valves on all of the radiators.
However, sometimes when your radiators are not working, it is not that simple and a professional needs to be called in. When this is the case, it is usually due to a build-up of sludge that stops the water from flowing as it should do. During this callout, the gas engineer will use a chemical power flush and clean the system to remove all the sludge.
These most common call-outs prove many issues can be solved at home, but more serious ones need a professional. Most issues happen during the winter when you need heating and hot water the most. As a general rule, if you are worried about a problem with your gas or heating system, calling an expert is the right thing to do. They will be able to prevent serious problems from arising and make sure that you have your hot water and heating back as soon as possible.
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