Boiler problems can be a pain, especially if you’re not knowledgeable in how things work. We rely on our boilers a lot to provide us with heat, and without knowing what we’re looking for, we could be faced with a problem or an unexpected breakdown. Not something you want to be faced with on a cold winter evening.
Modern boilers are much more efficient than they used to be, but if you have an older boiler, you may have noticed that its performance has slowly declined over time. Perhaps you regularly have breakdowns which can cost you a lot of money in terms of replacement components and can cause you a lot of stress in the process.
One of the main problems a boiler can have is low boiler pressure. Thankfully, your boiler’s pressure is quite simple to adjust and low pressure should be a quick and easy fix. You need to be able to identify when your boiler’s pressure is low and know how to adjust it to keep your boiler running efficiently.
How do you know if your boiler has low pressure?
Most households in the UK have a gas combi boiler for their heating and hot water, and it’s usually simple to find out your boiler pressure on this type. There should be a control panel at the front or underneath your boiler with either a circular dial or digital measurement of your boiler’s pressure.
The standard operating pressure should be between 1 and 1.5. If the number is above this, your pressure is too high. If it is below this, then your boiler pressure is too low. You’ll need to act to ensure your boiler is always at the safe operating pressure.
Low boiler pressure risks
Having low boiler pressure isn’t an immediate risk. It probably won’t do any damage to your boiler, but it will have an effect on how well your heating system works and its efficiency. You may find that if you have low boiler pressure, it can be particularly difficult to keep your house warm. You may also notice that your heating bills creep up too due to the excess energy use. To prevent this from happening, you should look towards fixing your boiler’s pressure as soon as possible.
How to fix low boiler pressure
An effective way to fix the problem of low boiler pressure is to re-pressurise your system. It’s a job you don’t need a registered Gas Safe engineer for, but if you’re unsure, you can always as for help. Re-pressurising a boiler means that you’ll need to allow more water to enter the system from your main water supply. This will be done through a filling loop. Even though filling loop designs can vary, there is a basic process you should follow when re-pressurising.
- Turn off your boiler and wait for it to cool
- Attach both ends of the filling loop securely
- Open the valves and allow the mains water to enter the system
- Keep an eye on the pressure gauge until it reaches the 1.5 mark
- Close the valves and turn your boiler back on
- Remove the filling loop, being careful to avoid any water spillages
When should you call an engineer?
Fixing your low boiler pressure is a simple job to carry out. However, if you’re not entirely sure what you’re doing or you’re still finding your boiler pressure is dropping, even after re-pressurising, you should have an expert come and take a look. They may be able to spot any underlying problems that aren’t clear on the surface.
Fix low boiler pressure confidently and effectively
Thankfully, your boiler’s low pressure is an easy fix. If you’re still finding problems or you’re seeing a lot of boiler breakdowns that are becoming costly, then it may be worth looking into a replacement, especially if your boiler is over 10 years old.
This post was in collaboration with BOXT, boiler and air conditioning installers who pride themselves on next day delivery and installation. For more information on their fixed, fair prices, visit their website: https://www.boxt.co.uk/.
