There's no heating, no hot water, you're freezing cold, unwashed and staring at your boiler wondering what could possibly be wrong with it, with no idea where to start. Sound familiar? We've been there too. There are a great number of reasons why your boiler might not be working; it's just about working out which of those reasons it could be. With the help of experts in boiler installation, Essex, we've rounded up seven common reasons your boiler has stopped working below.

Your boiler is leaking

Leaks are usually caused by an internal component. If the leak is found in the pressure valve, your boilers pressure may be too high, in the pump seal, the seal could have worn out, and leaks developed around the pipes in your system could be because of corrosion.

It is difficult to fully diagnose a leak yourself and you may need to call an engineer out to have a look at it to find the root of the problem.

Low pressure

Checking the pressure gauge on your boiler can ensure that the pressure is at the correct level. The pressure should be set at the 1.5 bar, but if it has fallen below 1 the pressure is too low for proper boiler function.

Low pressure in your boiler can be caused be a number of different problems. These problems include a system leak, recent radiator bleed, or an internal failure. While you can look for signs of leaks yourself, calling an engineer out may be necessary to get your boiler functioning properly again.

Frozen pipes

When water is produced by your boiler, it is carried away by pipes and in some houses, these are external pipes. In colder weather, these pipes can become frozen and cause a blockage. The condensate (wastewater from your boiler) can move back into the boiler, completely breaking the system.

This issue is easily fixed by using hot water to thaw your pipes. If you don't feel confident doing it yourself then call out an engineer to help. You should always check that the condensate pipes fitted are suitable for their environment.

Radiator issues

You can usually tell if your issue is down to a radiator fault by the cold patches that you can feel on heavily sludged radiators. Sludge and air build-ups both cause unequal distribution of heat across radiators. Bleeding radiators can usually solve these problems, but you may need an engineer if your system needs flushing.

Cleansing and flushing can be done as part of new boiler installation. Essex has hard water, meaning sludge is likely. You may need to have a filter or scale reducer fitted into your system.

Is your boiler making a lot of noise?

While its normal for a boiler to make a small amount of noise, if your boiler is making a real racket, you should probably get it checked out. Exceptional noise can be caused by air in the system, low pressure, a build-up of limescale, or a faulty pump. An engineer can get to the root of this problem easily.

No power to your boiler

If your issue is that your boiler just won't turn on, check other appliances in your house to make sure it isn't being caused by a power outage or a tripped fuse. If your boiler turns on but then switches itself off again, there could be an internal fault. And if you cannot find a reason for your boiler not turning on, then give your local engineer a call and they will be able to find the problem.

Total breakdown

Unfortunately, it may be the case that your boiler has totally broken down. It may have been caused by an issue addressed above that went unnoticed. Older boilers can break down due to their age. In this case, you will likely need a new boiler fitted.