Does your boiler keep switching itself off? Here’s why

A boiler that continually switches itself off can mean that your home is heated inefficiently or that you struggle to get enough hot water for your needs. While this may not seem like a big issue during these warmer months, it is best to fix a boiler that keeps switching itself off before winter arrives so that you can guarantee it stays working when you really need it.

There are many reasons that a boiler switches itself off, but here are just some of the common causes.

Photo by Tom Page / CC BY

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure can cause your boiler to turn itself off. If your boiler has a built-in pressure gauge then you can easily check whether there is low water pressure. A drop in water pressure can be caused in a number of ways, including a leak in your system or simply bleeding your radiators.

You can check your boiler’s water pressure by looking at the gauge. A good water pressure is usually around 1 bar. Some boilers’ manuals have instructions on how to re-pressurise it, but if you are unsure, it is best to have a Gas Safe Engineer re-pressurise it for you.

Faulty Thermostat

If your thermostat is old or broken, then this could be the cause of your boiler switching itself off. If this is the case, then having the thermostat replaced or fixed will resolve the issue.

For those needing a new thermostat, why not consider installing a new smart thermostat for maximum efficiency?

Frozen Condensate Pipes

If your condensate pipe freezes, it can cause your boiler to turn off. Signs your condensate pipe has frozen include your boiler shutting down and making gurgling noises.

If you find that your pipes have frozen, then you will need to thaw them by pouring hot water over them. To prevent the problem from repeatedly happening during the winter, you may want to insulate the pipes.

Issues with the feed of fuel

If your boiler is not receiving enough fuel, then this could be the reason why it continually shuts down. A boiler that doesn’t receive enough gas, electricity, or oil won’t be able to meet your heating and hot water needs so could also mean that even if your boiler is not turning off, you aren’t getting the amount of hot water you require.

Increasing the size of your fuel feed pipes and having them serviced can solve any issues with your boiler switching itself off and improve the amount of heat and hot water your home receives.

Issues with the feed of water

If your boiler isn’t receiving enough water to heat, then this could cause the boiler to turn off. A blocked or frozen water pipe will stop the flow of water to your boiler and can cause it to turn off.

Air in the system

If there is air in your central heating system, then your boiler may shut down. Bleeding your radiators can help solve the issue as it can remove the air trapped in your system. You can check to see whether air is trapped in your radiators when the heating has just been turned on by checking for cold spots in your radiators.

It’s fairly simple to check and bleed your radiators yourself and is a good way of maintaining optimum radiator efficiency.

Faulty Pump

If your boiler’s pump is faulty, then it can cause your boiler to switch off. As a pump is used to move water around the central heating system, if it is not working properly, then hot water could just stay in the boiler rather than be moved around the system. This can trigger your boiler to cut out.

Problem persisting?

The simplest way to avoid problems like these occurring that stop your boiler from working is to make regular checks on your system and to have regular servicing carried out. An annual service can mean that potential problems are discovered early and prevented or fixed.

DHS offer boiler servicing for Bristol homeowners that starts at just £74. For more information, or to book your servicing with one of our Gas Safe registered engineers, get in touch.

You can call DHS on 0117 924 7200, send us an email or fill in our contact form.