Boiler Broken Down? Here’s What to Do Right Now

Boiler breakdowns are one of the most annoying and uncomfortable household problems.

If you have boiler cover, they can usually be solved pretty conveniently.

But if you don’t, you may have to troubleshoot your system and keep your home habitable while you wait for an engineer.

When a broken boiler is and isn’t an emergency

Whether a broken boiler is a safety emergency depends entirely on the symptoms you notice.

Gas smells are an emergency

If you smell gas or suspect a carbon monoxide leak, this is a life-threatening emergency. 

You must evacuate your home immediately. Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, light matches, or even start packing your belongings.

Once safely outside, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 or dial 999. 

Important: Natural gas has an added odorant that smells like rotten eggs, while carbon monoxide is completely odourless, tasteless, and colourless. Always ensure you have a working carbon monoxide detector installed.

Vulnerable residents in the cold are an emergency

Having no heating or hot water in the winter is highly uncomfortable for most people. 

However, if you have vulnerable residents in the house, such as infants, the elderly, or someone with a serious illness, it is an urgent situation. 

While not a 999 emergency, you should call a Gas Safe engineer immediately or contact your local council’s housing or social care team.

When it’s an inconvenience

In most other cases, a broken boiler is simply inconvenient (rather than a safety emergency).

You should switch your boiler off at its controls and arrange for a qualified engineer to inspect it.

What to do when your boiler breaks down

There are several simple checks you can carry out yourself before you call an engineer. Many boiler lockouts are caused by minor system issues that are very easy to resolve.

You can run through this quick troubleshooting checklist.

Check the system pressure

Look at the pressure gauge on your boiler. Combi boilers require stable water pressure to run, which should sit between 1 and 1.5 bar when the heating is cold. 

If the gauge drops to 1 bar or below, your boiler may shut down. Repressurising is the first thing to try. You can do this yourself by opening the filling loop valves to top up the water.

Check your thermostat

A boiler will only fire up if there is an active call for heat. Verify that your thermostat is turned on and set to a target temperature higher than the current room temperature, such as 21°C.

Check for noises

Boilers that aren’t working well might make one of a range of different noises. These might be able to help you work out what’s going on.

Check the pilot light

If you have an older conventional boiler, check if the pilot flame has gone out. Refer to your user manual to see if you can safely relight the flame yourself. 

Note: if the light repeatedly goes out, don’t keep trying to relight it. It might be a sign of a faulty thermocouple or gas valve (for which you should call an engineer).

Press the reset button

If your boiler has locked out and is displaying a fault light, locate the reset button and hold it down for a few seconds. 

However, if the boiler locks out repeatedly, never attempt to bypass or jump out safety controls to force it to fire, as doing so is extremely dangerous.

Check for error codes

Modern boilers display a digital fault code when they fail. Note down this code and consult your user guide to understand the exact nature of the fault.

Handling a broken boiler in winter

A boiler breakdown during cold winter weather brings extra risks. 

Beyond discomfort, freezing temperatures can cause your outdoor condensate pipe to freeze. This causes water to back up and lock out the system. 

If this happens, you can gently pour warm (not boiling) water over the outdoor pipe to thaw the ice.

If your boiler is completely out of action, you must protect your home and keep warm:

• Draught proof your rooms: If you have any obvious sources of draught (doorframes, windows), place draught excluders or towels against them.
• Wrap up warm: Wear extra layers and a hat and gloves inside your home
• Use space heaters safely: If you have electric space heaters, plug them in to warm up the rooms you are active in. Remember though: these are more expensive to run than gas central heating.
• Use hot water bottles: Keep these with you during the day and in bed at night.

What if you’ve just moved into a house with a broken boiler?

If the home is a new build, it should be covered under a builder’s warranty.

If it’s an older property, check your welcome pack to see if the previous owner left recent annual service records.

Regardless of the records left behind, you should arrange a professional Gas Safe safety check immediately. Safety as well as comfort could be at stake.

Who should fix your broken boiler

Any repairs or internal maintenance on a gas boiler must strictly be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

It is illegal and highly dangerous to attempt any gas repairs yourself.

Always ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card before allowing them to start working on your appliance.

How to get hot water without your boiler

If your boiler also heats your domestic hot water, a breakdown means you’ll only have cold water until it’s fixed. Here are your options in the meantime.

• Check if you have an immersion heater. Some homes have this inside the hot water cylinder (often in the airing cupboard). It’s an electric heating element that works independently of the boiler. If you have one, switch it on at the cylinder or via its timer and you’ll have hot water within an hour or two.
• Use an electric shower. Electric showers heat water on demand using their own element and are completely independent of your boiler. If you have one, it will work normally even during a boiler breakdown.
• Kettle and bowl for washing. Not comfortable, but effective for washing hands and face while you wait. A large saucepan on the hob works for anything that needs more volume. Mix the hot water with cold water from the tap to avoid burning yourself.
• Use a gym or leisure centre. If you need a full shower and have no electric shower or immersion heater, most local gyms and leisure centres allow day-rate entry.

Get your boiler covered with Hometree

Our boiler cover includes unlimited repairs, an annual boiler service, zero parts & labour charges, and 24/7 claims support to keep your home warm. Subject to exclusions and T&Cs apply.

With no hidden fees and coverage across England, Scotland, and Wales, we’ve got you covered.

You can get covered today or contact us for a free quote.