Boiler repair FAQs answered by The London Plumbing Company
Your South London home’s boiler takes a lot of punishment. From keeping your household warm and supplied with hot water on demand, to handling liquids and gases at extreme temperatures, it’s essential you care for your boiler regularly.
But what happens when your boiler breaks down? For more than 20 years, The London Plumbing Company has helped thousands of homeowners and landlords with boiler repairs in Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Tooting, Clapham, Balham and South London, keeping families and tenants happy, warm and gas safe.
There’s hardly a question to do with boilers, boiler repairs and central heating system repairs that we haven’t been asked in that time, so we thought we’d put together answers to common queries about boiler repairs in South London to help you keep your boiler healthy, give you the lowdown on some of the things that might go wrong, and suggest your best moves for keeping your boiler up to the job, year after year.
Can’t find the answer to your boiler repair question? Get in touch with The London Plumbing Company!
What should I do if my boiler breaks down and needs a repair?
First, don’t panic! But there’s a set drill to follow:
– Turn off your boiler’s mains power
– If it’s a gas boiler, check that the pilot light has gone out
– See whether you can spot any obvious causes for the problem, e.g. low water pressure
– Ring your trusted, local Gas Safe Registered boiler engineer, like The London Plumbing Company, for advice
– Ask us for a quote to get your boiler repair underway
If you understand the problems to look for, make yourself familiar with these steps, and know how you can contact a reliable heating system engineer from The London Plumbing Company, then you can nip a lot of problems in the bud, and get boiler repairs in South London carried out before a small issue potentially becomes a much bigger deal.
How do I know if I need a boiler repair?
There are five tell-tale signs that your boiler may need a boiler repair, so if you notice any of these points get in touch with The London Plumbing Company for a prompt appointment:
– Radiators not warming up, or no hot water: The first and most obvious sign of a problem that may need a boiler repair. First, check that your thermostat is set properly. If it is, and your timer is also set to be providing heat and hot water at the time you check, then you may have a problem that needs investigating by a Gas Safe Registered heating engineer from The London Plumbing Company
– Odd noises from your pipework: Noises such as banging, clanging or something that sounds like a boiling kettle usually suggest something’s wrong inside your heating system’s pipework It could be caused by limescale build-up, or possibly a loose part, but either can be dealt with by an experienced boiler repair engineer from The London Plumbing Company.
– Water leaks from around your boiler: This is a sure sign of a problem, and you should get The London Plumbing Company’s expert gas engineers round to investigate it ASAP.
– Low water pressure: If your boiler has a pressure gauge (most reasonably modern boilers do), and the needle has dropped to lower than usual, it suggests there’s a leak, or you might have an airlock in your system. A boiler repair from The London Plumbing Company will be able to resolve this, getting your water pressure back to normal promptly
– Pilot light going out: This can have some minor causes which could be sorted by simply re-igniting it – something you should always be sure you know how to do. But if it persists there may be a bigger problem, possibly with your gas supply, the ignition system, or your thermocouple. These are all problems a Gas Safe engineer from The London Plumbing Company can properly and thoroughly investigate for you.
Our teams and fully-equipped vans are out and about all over South London, getting to you quickly if you find yourself in need of an emergency boiler repair. So don’t let any of these signs develop into a bigger problem – call us to get help and advice from one of our team of knowledgeable and experienced gas and heating servicing and repair experts.
How long should my boiler last?
A typical boiler’s lifespan is between 10 and 15 years. Many boiler manufacturers offer generous warranties on their appliances, but these will often only stay current if you have your boiler serviced regularly.
The lifespan of your boiler might also depend on how heavily it’s used, and its location. So a well sheltered spot, well away from any sources of moisture, yet which is still easily accessible, is the ideal place to have one installed, and could have a bearing on its longevity.
Should I book a boiler repair if my boiler has got a gas leak?
There are three main signs to look out for which often point to a gas leak:
– Dark stains on your boiler or the walls or ceiling around it: this is a sign that your gas flue is the source of a leak, and needs attention.
– A slight smell: while the deadly carbon monoxide gas is odourless and colourless, when it’s released in your home it’s usually mixed with other gases so that it can be smelled and warn you that you should get your boiler looked at.
– Condensation in the room housing your boiler: This won’t be caused by the presence of carbon monoxide in itself, but is a likely sign of a poorly ventilated boiler. Carbon monoxide and other gases can linger in your house, and their build-up is a danger sign. You need, by law, to have a carbon monoxide detector installed, and this will be activated if you have a problem with a build-up of the gas.
If you notice any of these signs, and you live in South London, Wandsworth or Wimbledon, you should immediately get in touch with The London Plumbing Co and one of our knowledgeable on-call boiler repair engineers will get to you as soon as possible to carry out any boiler repairs needed, putting your mind at rest.
Should I repair or replace my boiler?
If they are spotted promptly, and properly dealt with, many issues with a gas boiler can be put right with a professional boiler repair. All boilers have a number of parts which, over time, will suffer wear and tear, affecting their performance, and many can be quickly and economically replaced during a boiler repair from The London Plumbing Company.
If your boiler has been serviced regularly, this should mean there’s much less chance of it suffering any unforeseen problems which might need the attention of boiler repair South London specialists. But it can also help a boiler last longer, as replacing those parts worst affected by wear and tear will keep your whole system running more efficiently, putting less stress on the hidden parts which are most difficult and expensive to fix.
But when your boiler has reached the end of its life, it may be a false economy to try to keep it working, as you won’t benefit from the cost savings that having a more modern and more efficient boiler will bring.
Think you might need a new boiler installation, rather than a boiler repair? Contact The London Plumbing Company to request a home survey and quote for a new, energy-efficient boiler from a leading manufacturer.
Can I carry out boiler repairs myself?
We don’t recommend that you repair your boiler yourself. If your boiler is still under its manufacturer’s warranty, boiler repairs should be done by an accredited Gas Safe Registered professional heating engineer such as The London Plumbing Company.
Carrying out boiler repairs yourself will almost certainly void this warranty, meaning that you won’t be able to rely on it if you need to make a claim. Not only that, but boiler repairs can be complex and require expert understanding and knowledge. Carrying out boiler repairs yourself is likely to be dangerous – protect your home and household with a professional boiler repair in South London from The London Plumbing Company.
How do I find a reliable boiler repair engineer in South London?
The Gas Safe Register is the official list of accredited and qualified boiler engineers. Engineers are legally required to be on the register to be allowed to work on your gas supply and appliances.
The London Plumbing Company is fully Gas Safe Registered to carry out gas appliance servicing and repairs throughout South London, with a fleet of vehicles out and about daily ready to respond speedily to emergency boiler repair calls. Check our reviews on Checkatrade.com and Google Reviews, where customers have left us some great feedback on our reliable boiler repair service.
How much will my boiler repair in South London cost?
If you need boiler repairs in South London, our instant quote facility will quickly and easily guide you through your boiler repair quote and appointment.
You’ll always be dealing with a fully Gas Safe Registered engineer, who will get all the information they need to accurately diagnose your boiler repair or heating and hot water system repair, then recommend the repairs you need to get up and running again safely.
We know that time really matters when you need a boiler repair. The London Plumbing Company will tell you when we’re going to arrive, diagnose the problem, and get your boiler repair job done – no fuss.
A quicker diagnosis makes boiler repairs in South London more efficient and helps your boiler to last longer.
How can I book a boiler repair with The London Plumbing Company?
The London Plumbing Company’s developed our own instant quote system that helps you get your boiler repair job in South London booked in quickly, with clear and transparent pricing.
Get your boiler repair in South London underway with our local team by choosing the work you need, uploading photos, adding comments to give us a bit more detail and submitting.
We’ll confirm your quote, book your time slot and get on the road!
Boiler repairs need a fast, responsive service. The London Plumbing Company only works in the South London area, so we’re always nearby when your boiler needs a repair.
