Having no hot water or heating, particularly as we enter the winter is a real pain and something you want to avoid at all costs. There is nothing worse than waking up to a cold shower or coming home to a cold house!

Whilst we are here to help, there are some simple things you can check first. You may be able to fix the issue yourself without incurring the cost of an engineer.

With most standard combi boilers, the problem can be a simple one. Here are some of the most common signs to look out for:

• Radiators not heating up – If the bottom of your radiator is warm but the rest is not, this can usually be fixed by bleeding your radiators. If you have cold spots on the radiators, this can be down to a build up of sludge.
• Noises – If you are hearing noises such as banging or whistling coming from your boiler, it could be down to air in the system, a water pressure issue or a faulty part.
• Low boiler pressure – If the pressure level on your boiler gauge is low, this can be the cause of the problem. Low pressure often occurs when a radiator has been bled or there is a leak in the system.
• Leaks – A broken component can cause leaks and even the smallest of leaks can cause havoc with your heating and hot water.
• Frozen pipes – During the winter months this is something to keep an eye on. Frozen pipes can be prevented but can cause a real issue if not nipped in the bud.
• Boiler has turned off – If your boiler has turned itself off it can be down to a pressure issue, a faulty pump or a blockage in the system.
• Thermostat – Ensure your thermostat is turned up to a high enough temperature to ‘kick in’. If this still doesn’t work, you may have a faulty thermostat which needs replacing.

So before you call out an engineer, here are the quick checks you can do:

• Check the boiler pressure as at the correct level
• Turn your thermostat up
• Reset your boilers timing – particularly if you have recently had a power cut or the clocks have changed
• Check for any leaks from the boiler or radiators
• Reset your boiler – refer to your specific boiler manual for instructions

If you still have issues or if you are unsure of anything, then just give us a call.