During the winter months when the weather takes a turn for the worst and you start to feel the cold, you just want to curl up on the couch at home with a blanket and snuggle, it will often slip your mind to make sure your boiler pressure is up to speed. With cold nights drawing and in snow on the horizon it is important to check your boiler is working to it’s full potential as the winter is the worst possible time for a boiler to fault.

Can You Fix It Yourself?

Regular servicing of your boiler and central heating system is the best way to avoid any nasty surprises when it comes to the health of your boiler however, there are many reasons your boiler could gain or lose pressure so if you find yourself in this situation the good news is it could be possible to fix it yourself. However if you are struggling to solve the issue then an emergency plumber will always be available to save the day.

What Should Your Boiler Pressure Be?

If your boiler pressure fluctuates between 1 and 2 that’s normal and within the safe threshold. If your boiler isn’t firing up and not giving you hot water then it is recommended that you make sure the boiler pressure stays at 1 bar, as when the boiler is running the water heats up inside causing it to expand and it will allow the pressure to increase slightly. Its always a good idea to keep a close eye on your boiler pressure all year round to avoid any nasty surprises. This should be easy as most boilers have a digital pressure display. On the other hand a slow decrease in pressure could mean a gradual leak, and a slow increase in pressure could mean the filling loop isn’t working correctly, in this case you will need to call a plumber to come and fix the problem. Even if you re-pressured the boiler yourself you wouldn’t be fixing the problem and it will continue to be ongoing

What To Do With Low Boiler Pressure

There are many reasons the pressure in your boiler can drop, it could be a leak in the system or even bleeding your radiators. Every boiler comes with its own specific instructions on how to re-pressurise it so you can do it yourself. It usually involves turning two taps, you will hear a hissing noise, this is the water being released into the system, then you should see the pressure start to increase. When the pressure gets between 1 and 2 you need to turn the taps off as it has reached the correct pressure. If you don’t feel up to the task you can always call out a plumber to resolve the issue.

What To Do With High Boiler Pressure

There are safety Systems in place to stop your boiler pressure getting too high, it will usually start spitting out water when its too high this will be coming out of the pressure release valve often found on the outside wall to where the boiler is installed. If this isn’t happening and your boiler pressure is going above 2 bar then the best thing to do is bleed a radiator to relieve the pressure yourself. However if the problem continues or it keeps happening regularly then you should call out a plumber to come and diagnose the problem. It is common that the system may be letting small amounts of water in through a faulty valve which in turn causes such problems.

Get a Gas Safe Registered Plumber

If you have frequent drops or rises in the pressure of your boiler then there is potentially a more serious problem that needs resolving. It could just be as simple as changing a vale but it is important that you get a gas safe registered plumber to do the job. They will have an ID card that they can produce to you showing they are qualified and can safely carry out the work.

For more information on making sure your boiler stays happy this winter contact us.