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.
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.
Unit 2 Septimus Buildings 
Frozen condensate pipes it was, VERY useful website, Thank you
You’re welcome Andrew!
The settings on my boiler keep changing on their own. I put in on constant last night, but this morning it had changed to auto. This has happened on a few occasions as well as it changing from constant to off, auto to off, and all other variations. My landlord has tried switching my control unit with his, but I am still getting the same issue. Any ideas what could be the problem?
Unfortunately, we would need more detail than this to find the root of the problem. Please feel free to give us a call and we can see how we can help!
Hi can anyone help,my boiler ignites fun not water for couple of mins boiler goes offsite on off couple of times and it sometime s stays on,when it does the dial on pressure gauge moving backwards and forwards rapidly
Hi Neil,
My best suggestion would be to give us a call on 0117 924 7200 as we would need more information to identify the issue.
We like to turn our thermostat to 62 or 63 at night versus 67 or 68 at night. When we have done it this year the boiler turns off at night and we need to reset in the morning. Any ideas.
We have just installed a new thermostat. It has been working for quite a few days and then todaythe boiler just keeps firing and then stopping.
Could the thermostat be the issue?
Hi Jo, it’s hard to say without more information. Please feel free to use our online chat feature or quick us a call for more advice.
Hi Admin, I have a grant outdoor condenser euroflame, 11yrs old, it wont switch on from indoor thermo when i press it, i bled outdoor and it fires up for about 2 mins then it cuts out, it wont let u reset ot reboot it for a few hrs and only then can you press the red button to fire her up again but it just cuts out again after a few mins, what do u think is wrong with jt, Thanks, Carol.
My gas boiler only heats the water that we use for bathing we don’t have central heating but
It cuts out after giving me medium hot water for only 3-4 minutes
What do you think the problem is
Thank you
Hi, My Worcester Bosch Greenstar Ri (5yr old) stops working correctly. The thermostat in the lounge
is asking for heat but the boiler does not respond. I have found that, as we have to do with the
television by switching off the power for 5 minutes ,switching back on, allowing the computer to reset
itself, it then works as normal.
Since it functions correctly for long periods of time I have difficulty in thinking that the fault lies with
the external hardware (pump etc.). The shut down works every time !!!
Just had a brand new Potterton Promax 24HE installed, which replaced a 15HE, it was one out one in scenario, System cleaned, new Magna clean and vented ready to go, it was fired up bled and works perfectly, its quiet, rads get hot water gets hot, but then after 1 hour 11 mins exactly it switches off then goes into 30 second on off cycle and doesnt stop until its turned off at the timer, Problem is we can now only have the heating on for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening, which is worrying if we have a freezing cold spell. I purchased the boiler off ebay and it was new when i collected, it was out the box, never been connected or fired and in showroom condition as the chap decided to fit a combi not heat only. My thoughts are whilst being new it may have a faulty control PCB? or could the timer be at fault and sending the wrong signals (EP2002. I have tried reducing the pump speed down to medium and slow but the same happens and i have bled the pump and rads, at my wits end now……….Please help
Hi there,
I have a very old electric boiler used only for jot water. There was suddenly no hot water yesterday from about 5 till midnight. The light on the mains power switch of the boiler was also turned off. Suddenly around midnight the mains light on the boiler turned itself on and now there was hot water this morning but the mains light has gone off once again. Im not on econ saver so not sure what’s going on? I’d be very grateful for some advice.
Thanks
Hello my ideal boiler fires up then turns itself off after a very short time, got hot water but radiator are cold,new pump was fitted but still have the problem, can anyone help please
Hi,
my boiler has stopped working since this morning. I tried to reset it but it fires up then after a minute or so switches off. I have no hot water and no heating. Not sure what the problem could be.
The heating and hot water are not working the timer light has gone off but the dial still clicking on it is this normal the 24hr switch doesn’t work will I need a new timer or can the pump cause the timer to go off ?
Hi Sarah, Please feel free to contact us or give us a call on 0117 924 7200 as we would need more information to identify the issue. Thanks
My Baxi is playing up. I switched the hot water and heating off over the weekend as I was away and left the boiler alone. Having turned the timers back on the boiler will fire up but only for a short time. The green ON light then cuts off!!
Hi Daureen, our suggestion would be to contact us or give us a call on 0117 924 7200 as we would need more information to identify the issue.
I appreciate what you said about getting your thermostat replaced to stop your boiler from switching itself off. My brother has been telling me about how his boiler has been turning off on its own. I’ll pass this information along to him so that he can look into his options for getting a new thermostat.
Hi, our combi comes on fine and heats up to 60C but then cuts out until the temp drop to about 55C, comes back on, rinse and repeat every 2 or 3 minutes which is annoying and inefficient I suspect.. All well before the rooms are to temperature. Have bled the radiators, the pump seems to be running fine, have even tried turning the pump speed up and down. No deposits in the water when I bleed the radiators and all get warm to hot although not scolding. The manual of the boiler says it should run to 85C with the thermostat on the boiler turned to max which it is. Any ideas? Thank you in advance
Hi Steve, we need some more detail to assist you. Please feel free to give us a call and we can see how we can help!
hi, the gas supply cuts off completely when the boiler comes on in the morning. The gas meter is in the porch and the boiler is in the garage. Instruction from the gas board has helped me to reset the gas meter by pressing the B and A buttons. Before pressing these buttons I switch off the boiler. After the gas supply has been turned on everything is fine. This has now happened four times in seven days. No problems when the heating comes on in the evening.
The boiler was serviced three months ago. Should I contact the gas supplier or is their a fault with the actual boiler.
Thanks
Hi Mrs Raghbir McGinley, we need more information to figure out the cause. Please feel free to give us a call on 0117 924 7200 and we’ll be happy to assist you. Thank you.
Hi my boiler shows F every morning and won’t work. Then I close it down and switch it back on press reset and it works all day?
Hi I have a alpha boiler that keep going to reset but I have to turn the boiler off befor the reset button will work it cut out when Iits very cold out side need help as the weather getting colder
Nice blog. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Hi my combo boiler keeps bubbling then switches itself off and won’t stay on