Does it feel like you’re always having to reset your boiler?
It can be annoying or frustrating if this keeps happening to you – especially during the winter months – but at the same time, there could be a very good reason for your boiler locking out.
Your boiler could require a reset due to parts wearing down, safety issues, or simply because it’s nearing the end of its life. However, through many years of experience troubleshooting faulty boilers, I know it’s not something that should be ignored.
Below, I’m going to give you some advice about what to do if your boiler needs reset, including when it’s time to call in the professionals.
Why is a reset needed?
If your boiler senses a problem, it usually stops working and will need to be reset – think of it as a safety measure to highlight the fact that there is something wrong.
This is particularly common with older boilers that need serviced or have older parts that are becoming worn down. If your boiler requires a reset, it could be down to a variety of potential issues.
It could be that the pressure is dropping, the boiler is overheating, or the flue is not getting enough air intake – all of which would cause the boiler to go into ‘lockout’ or stop working.
When it becomes a problem
When a boiler needs to be reset, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the problem is serious. If your boiler needs to be reset just once, it could be that there is a simple glitch in the system.
However, if you’re having to do this numerous times, I would recommend getting the boiler serviced and thoroughly checked over before it stops working completely – which will eventually happen if nothing is done.
If it’s a simple of matter of having to top up the pressure in your boiler, it’s also not a particularly serious issue, as the boiler will simply reset once this has been done.
However, this problem is only going to get worse with time, and I’d recommend getting an engineer to look at it before it causes further problems later down the line.
Get it checked out
Most boilers have safety measures in place to they will not continue to work if there is flue problems or electrical problems. Continually having to reset your boiler is an indicator that the boiler definitely either needs serviced or overhauled.
We were once called to a boiler that had been installed 10 years before, and had worked perfectly up to this time. The boiler was refusing to reset and kept switching off. After doing some tests, we found the boiler wasn’t getting rid of the spent gases from the boiler, which was potentially dangerous.
It turned out that the source of the problem was a corroded flue, which was quickly replaced, testing and left working. So really it was just a case of wear and tear, and the boiler itself was still in good condition.
My advice is to reset your boiler once, or maybe even twice. Be safe, don’t try to fix it yourself, and if the problem persists, call in an experienced, professional Gas Safe registered engineer.
Conclusion
If you’re having to reset your boiler on a regular basis, it might be annoying, but it could also be a sign that something more serious is wrong. It could be simple wear and tear, a safety issue, or just the fact that your boiler is nearing the end of its life.
My advice is to reset your boiler once or twice, but if the problem persists, get it checked out by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is experienced with troubleshooting faulty boilers. If you have to keep topping up your boiler’s pressure, it may seem like a simple fix, but it will only get worse with time and may cause other problems.
Remember, sometimes a simple change of parts may be the answer, and your boiler could be working good as new again – it’s not always the worst case scenario.
