Your Complete Guide
Most of us aren’t familiar with the really intricate workings of our boilers. They’re just there in the background doing their job and go unnoticed most of the time! Let’s look at some of the signs that you should give a Gas Safe engineer who specialises in boiler repair in Chelmsford a call.
What is normal for a boiler?
The fan and pump in your boiler both work very hard, so you are going to hear them. If your boiler is totally silent, it’s not working! These noises shouldn’t be too loud though. You should definitely call a Gas Safe engineer if your boiler is very hot, seems to be labouring, or is making any of the following sounds:
Kettling
Kettling is the term for a whistling noise coming from a boiler. Thanks to Chelmsford being a hard water area, a build up of limescale is one of the most common causes. The limescale restricts the flow of water in your boiler and heat exchanger and this is what leads to that high-pitched whistling noise. It can also be caused by trapped air in the system. This can be fixed by bleeding your radiators.
Banging
No one wants to hear a banging noise coming from their boiler. It can be caused by a faulty thermostat, which in turn is often caused by our old friend limescale or a faulty pump. It’s down to the pump; this should be replaced. Banging can also be caused by your boiler being too large for the space that it is in or issues with the pipework rather than the boiler itself.
Loud humming
Humming can be caused by water arriving from the mains at too high a pressure. This can make the valves in your boiler or the pipes in your home hum. The noise can also be down to a faulty pump sending hot water around the pipework too quickly, or by loose or faulty parts humming as they move. It’s definitely something that you should have looked at sooner rather than later.
Is a noisy boiler dangerous?
Like we said already, a boiler that makes no sound at all is a boiler that isn’t working! Noises that aren’t normal for your boiler are a sign that it isn’t running at its best though. The good news is most modern boilers are designed to switch off if there is a truly critical issue.
There’s no way of knowing what the root cause of a noise is without taking a closer look, and that’s why you should give your Gas Safe engineer a call as soon as you notice anything out of the ordinary. Even if the issue isn’t dangerous, it will be stopping your boiler from running as efficiently as possible.
What to do if you smell gas
We know this isn’t a sound, but the smell of gas is something you should always be looking out for. Whether it is accompanied by noises or not, you should go to your gas meter and pull the handle to the horizontal position right away. Then you need to open all the windows and doors and call your Gas safe engineer immediately!
What now?
If you notice any of the above or you just feel as if something is different, call a trusted plumbing and heating team today! Even better: get an annual service! Your Gas Safe engineer is there to remind you and set up a schedule. So you can protect your boiler and everyone in your home.
