What To Do If Your Boiler Breaks Down

As the temperature drops in winter, it’s crucial to ensure that your heating system is working efficiently, especially your boiler. However, despite proper maintenance and care, a boiler breakdown can happen at any time, leaving you in a difficult and uncomfortable situation.

If your boiler breaks down in winter, don't panic. Here are some steps you can take to stay safe, warm and get your heating system back up and running:

1. Check the basics: Before you call a professional, check that the boiler is turned on and that the pilot light is lit. It's also important to ensure that the gas and electricity supply is not disrupted.

2. Turn off the boiler: If your boiler is leaking or making strange noises, it's crucial to turn it off immediately to prevent further damage or accidents.

3. Contact a qualified engineer: Only a Gas Safe registered engineer should carry out any repair work on your boiler. You can find a registered engineer by visiting the Gas Safe Register website or by contacting your boiler manufacturer.

4. Keep warm: If you have a gas fire or electric heater, use it to keep warm until the engineer arrives. You can also use warm blankets, hot water bottles or layer up with warm clothes.

5. Ventilate the room: If you can smell gas or suspect a gas leak , open all windows and doors to ventilate the room and avoid using any electrical switches or naked flames.

6. Take precautions: If you're experiencing a boiler breakdown, it's important to take precautions to prevent frozen pipes, burst pipes, and other related issues. Keep your taps running at a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing, and open cupboard doors to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.

7. Document the issue: Make sure you document the problem, including any symptoms and when they started, to help the engineer diagnose and repair the issue more efficiently.

By taking out a Boiler and Central Heating Cover plan before a problem develops, you’ll have complete protection against boiler breakdowns and heating failure. We’ll keep your boiler running, radiators warm and your taps piping hot.