Emergency boiler repair in London: hope for the best and prepare for the worst

Emergency boiler repair in London: hope for the best and prepare for the worst

Cases when a gas boiler needs emergency repair are not uncommon in London. It could be a very frustrating experience unless you are prepared for it. Here we will guide you through all the steps so you will be fully aware of signs you need paying attention to and how to act when the boiler breakdown strikes you.

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Warning signs your boiler needs immediate repair

All boiler malfunctions we can divide on extremely dangerous and of so-called secondary importance ones. Unit deformation, leaking, colour change, and no heating warns you are facing the first group. So they must be prioritised and resolved immediately.

Visible deformation of boiler parts

Any deformations due to inner reasons are obvious signs of your insecurity related to your heating appliance functioning. To clarify, you never know what may happen next moment, whether it may burst or not. Therefore, we recommend inspecting your unit at least once a month in order not to miss any deformation. Except for summer months, when the temperature allows you to stay for a while with your gas boiler out of order, this requires immediate repair.

There is water around the boiler

No boiler is designed to emit water. Thus, if you find any wet spots near your heating appliance, it means your unit is leaking. Leaking unit can still heat, but is unsafe. To clarify, there are electrical connections in its construction and water ingress may cause short circuit. In turn, electrical short has got two negative consequences:

• Electric shock hazards that affect your health and threaten your life,
• Major breakdowns that increase your repair bills and affect your budget.

So, if you notice your appliance is leaking, you should get the issue fixed as soon as possible.

The flame colour in your boiler is yellow or orange

Ideally, the flame should be blue. In this case you can rest assured your heating appliance operates properly concerning fuel combustion quality. In other words, it runs with complete combustion. In contrast, changing the colour to orange or yellow indicates poor air supply and incomplete combustion.
Is this problem is serious? Yes, it certainly is! Just read about the hazards incomplete combustion creates to choose one that stresses you the most:

• Less energy release and, as a result, poor heating,
• Producing more soot that pollutes the room and builds upon the flue walls creating extra restriction to combustion gases,
• Carbon monoxide emission that threatens your life.

So, if the flame in your gas boiler isn’t blue but orange or yellow (especially if it is yellow), contact a Gas Safe engineer for emergency repair immediately.

Your boiler is not heating

No heat is not only the sign your boiler needs emergency repair but a real problem, especially in London winter. We guess we don’t have to tell you why you need to resolve this problem in no time. You know well, staying without heat and hot water is not a pleasant experience when it is below zero outside.

However, let us indicate one more detail – the risk of getting your whole central heating system frozen. The more scale of the disaster, the more efforts (and more money) it takes to restore the system.

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Other signs indicating your boiler malfunction

Early we describe common signs that indicate the need for immediate repairs. Nevertheless, you may find other manifestations of your boiler failure. That is to say, we do not rate them as emergency but still urge you not to neglect them. Here they are:

• Higher energy bills,
• Strange noises,
• Poor heat,
• Losing pressure,
• Frequent shutdowns.

Do remember, the faster you resolve any minor issue, the less risk of facing major troubles and the safer your life. Note, with regular central heating boiler service, you can lower this risk as well.

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How to act if your boiler needs emergency repair

If you find out any of the signs listed in the previous section of this post, do not panic but follow our recommendations. 

Step 1. Switch your heating device off

While manufacturers designed a boiler to shut down due to serious malfunctions, in cases we described earlier your heating unit is likely to be still operating. So, first you should do when notice your unit does not heat, leaking, or change its fame colour from blue to orange or yellow is to shut it down. To accomplish this follow the next procedure order:

1. Close the external manual gas valve to stop gas supply to your appliance,
2. Switch off the appliance on the control panel,
3. Shut down the system circuit breaker to stop power supply.

Step 2. Check your warranty or insurance

Here you need to check whether your boiler warranty is still valid. So, store your papers the way you exactly know their place and can easily access it. If the warranty is still valid, check the service centers you can apply for repairs.
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If your appliance is much older, you may have another option to cover your repair expenses. To clarify, your home insurance may include boiler breakdown clause it covers. So, check if yours has this clause and make prescribed arrangements if it has.

Step 3. Contact a company near you for emergency boiler repair

No matter, whether you have the valid boiler warranty, cover, or appropriate clause in your home insurance, you need to contact a Gas Safe engineer. Note, emergency call-outs are often charged at higher rates than pre-scheduled. However, it is still cheaper comparing to the inconvenience and expenses you may have during the longer no-heat-no-water period.

Step 4. Prepare for no-heat-no-water period

It is impossible to guarantee you will get your appliance back up and running the same day it breaks down. So preparing for no-heat-no-water period is what you do the next:

• Make arrangements to eliminate draughts,
• Organize temporary heating with safe portable heaters,
• Dress warm and use layers.

Using your common sense, you will get the best of your means so you and your family won’t catch a cold but survive this period.