When repair makes sense
- The boiler is under roughly ten years old
- It's a single, identifiable fault — not a pattern
- Parts are still available at sensible prices
- The boiler has otherwise been reliable and efficient
Boiler Repair
Boiler not working? Our Gas Safe registered engineers diagnose the actual fault before touching a single part — then give you a fixed quote and a straight answer on whether the repair is worth it.
Our approach
Diagnosis first, parts second
A surprising amount of boiler "repair" is guesswork — swapping parts one by one until the fault goes away, at your expense. We work the other way round. The engineer traces the fault using the boiler's own diagnostics, test readings and working knowledge of what actually fails on each major brand, then tells you what's wrong, what it will cost to put right, and whether putting it right makes sense.
You approve a fixed quote before any repair begins. And if the honest answer is that the boiler owes you nothing — typically when it's old, inefficient and on its second or third fault — we'll say so and price a replacement boiler alongside, with no pressure either way.
Landlords: we can liaise with your tenant directly to arrange access and keep you updated, so a broken boiler doesn't turn into a week of three-way phone tag.
No heat right now? Check these first
- Thermostat and timer — turned up, switched on, and actually calling for heat?
- Pressure gauge — it should sit around 1 to 1.5 bar when cold; repressurise via the filling loop if it has dropped
- Power, gas and credit — check the fused spur, whether other gas appliances work, and any prepayment meter
- Frozen condensate pipe — in a cold snap, a frozen external pipe is a very common cause of lockout; thawing it with warm (never boiling) water often revives the boiler
Still nothing? Call the emergency line on 07935 802532.
Symptoms
Common boiler faults in plain English
| Symptom | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| No heating or hot water at all | An ignition, fan or pump fault, or a control failure — the display's error code usually narrows it down quickly |
| Heating works but no hot water (or the reverse) | On a combi, a sticking diverter valve is the usual suspect |
| Pressure keeps dropping | A small leak somewhere on the system, a waterlogged expansion vessel or a passing pressure relief valve |
| Kettling — rumbling or banging | Limescale or sludge coating the heat exchanger, making water boil where it shouldn't |
| Error code on the display | Anything from a blocked condensate pipe to a failed sensor — tell us the code when you book and we can often arrive with the likely part |
| Water underneath the boiler | Perished seals, a corroded fitting or a discharging relief valve — worth attending promptly before water reaches the electronics |
None of these automatically means a big bill. Caught early, most are modest fixes — and a boiler that gets its annual service develops far fewer of them in the first place. What turns a small fault into an expensive one is running the boiler regardless, so if something sounds or smells different, switch it off and get it looked at.
The honest question
Repair it, or replace it?
When replacement wins
- Faults are becoming a habit — the repairs are adding up
- Parts are obsolete or disproportionately expensive
- It's an old non-condensing model wasting gas every day it runs
- You want the fresh warranty and lower bills of a new installation
Whichever way it goes, you'll see both numbers before deciding. And once the heating is back, it's worth checking the paper side too: if the property is let, the repair visit is a natural moment to bring the CP12 gas safety certificate up to date. Browse the rest of our boiler services or send us the symptoms to get started.
Common questions
Boiler repair questions, answered
How much does a boiler repair cost?
It depends on the fault and the parts needed — a sensor is a very different job from a heat exchanger. The engineer diagnoses first and gives you a fixed quote before any repair starts. Send the symptoms or the error code via WhatsApp or the quote form and we'll come back to you, usually the same working day.
Can you fix the boiler on the first visit?
Often, but honestly not always. Engineers carry the components that fail most frequently, and telling us the error code when you book improves the odds further. If a part has to be ordered, you'll know before committing to anything.
My boiler keeps losing pressure — is that serious?
Topping up through the filling loop is fine as a short-term measure, but if you're doing it more than occasionally there's a reason — usually a small leak on the system, a waterlogged expansion vessel or a passing pressure relief valve. Left alone, the constant fresh water accelerates corrosion and sludge, so it's worth diagnosing properly.
Is a broken boiler an emergency?
No heating or hot water in winter — especially with young children, elderly or unwell occupants — should be treated as urgent, and you can call our emergency line on 07935 802532. If you can smell gas, that's a different kind of emergency: turn the gas off at the meter if safe to do so and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first.
Should I repair or replace my boiler?
Age and fault history decide it. A boiler under about ten years old with a single modest fault is normally worth repairing; one that's older and failing repeatedly usually isn't. We quote both routes so you can compare the numbers rather than take anyone's word for it.