We rely on hot water every single day, whatever the time of year. So, when it stops working unexpectedly it’s a real pain. But more often than not, there is a simple fix to get you up and running again.
If your hot water has stopped working you may have to call out an engineer, but it’s worth trying these five tips before you do:
1. Is it switched on at the electrics?
This might seem an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how often engineers come across this scenario! Because we have our boilers on all the time, if someone accidentally switches them off at the mains it might not be the first place you think to look.
2. Check the water temperature
Most boilers have a separate dial for the water temperature and if this has been turned down in error then this could be the issue. The usual temperature for hot water be set at is around 60° or 65°.
3. The pilot light may have gone out
If your boiler has a lighted pilot light then it may have gone out. You will find plenty of instruction videos online telling you how to switch it back on, but it is only something you should attempt if you feel comfortable doing so. If not, an engineer will be able to come out and fix the problem in no time at all.
4. The diverter key may have perished
Because combi boilers do two jobs simultaneously – heating your water and your radiators – they need to switch between the two functions. This is the job of the diverter valve which is a small component inside your boiler. Diverter valves can perish after a certain amount of time, causing the boiler to become stuck. A trained engineer will be able to diagnose and fix this issue.
5. Is your boiler around 10 years old?
If your boiler is aged 7-10+ years old, it may simply be old and on its way out. Boilers rarely last fully functioning beyond 10 years and they will start to break down more frequently the older they get. If you think this may be the case, get your engineer to take a look and tell you if the repair job is worthwhile or if the money would be better spent on a new model.
Need a professional assessment? Call one of our team now and we’ll send somebody out to help you diagnose and resolve the problem.
