Posted on

Why Is My Boiler Pressure Too High? How to Fix it

Boiler pressure can change for a variety of causes. If you discover that the pressure in your boiler has become too high, in the following troubleshooting steps we will discuss how to lower it and restore it to its normal operating level.

What Is Boiler Pressure And What to Know About It?

The water pressure within the boiler is referred to as “boiler pressure.” The pressure of the boiler is determined by the balance of water and air within the machine, and it must be kept at a normal level to guarantee that the boiler is gas safe, which is critical for your safety.
The pressure generated by the boiler is distributed throughout the system’s pipes and components, and it can be hazardous when enough pressure builds up.
It’s a good choice to consult a boiler engineer if you need to lower your boiler pressure or to restore it to normal.

Contact Boiler Engineer near you

How to Read Your Boiler Pressure

The perfect boiler must be able to detect when pressure needs to be adjusted. But that isn’t the case, then contact a boiler engineer to make an inspection.
You must monitor the boiler pressure gauge to verify if your boiler is operating properly. Because of the colours and numerals on the gauge, it is easy to observe whenever the boiler pressure approaches a dangerous zone on most boilers.
The pressure in your boiler ought to be between 1 and 1.5 bar, which would be in the green portion of the pressure indicator. If the pressure from the water in the system exceeds 2.5 bars, the pressure is too high, and anything below 1 bar is too low.
To keep it safe, your heating system should immediately shut off if the boiler pressure is extremely high or low. At a high pressure of three or four bars, a new boiler like the Worcester BOSCH 8000 model will automatically shut off.
Strong pressure in your boiler isn’t always a concern; it could simply signal elevated water requirements from the system. If this is the case, the release valve will go down once you have interrupted access to water in the house, such as cleaning dishes or taking a bath.
However, there could be a problem with your boiler if the pressure has become too high at approximately 3 bar without any additional demand for hot water.

Common Causes of High Boiler Pressure

There is most certainly a problem with your boiler if the pressure is constantly too high.
Let’s look at a few of the most prevalent reasons for high boiler pressure:

Standard Issues

The more water or air pressure in your boiler can be caused by a number of factors, including the expansion vessel, pressure release valve, and filling loop.
You can inspect these valves yourself, but most boilers require a gas safe professional to check that your home has better accessibility to heating and hot water. In most circumstances, boilers with this type of malfunctioning valve can be readily repaired, and it is often not expensive.
To get the proper solution and keep your place safe, call a boiler technician as quickly as possible if there are difficulties with your boiler.

Boiler Needs a Replacement

Most boilers can last around 10 years and occasionally even longer, if maintained well.
However there isn’t any strict rule, on some occasions a boiler might have to be replaced  sooner than expected. So, how can you know when it’s time to replace your boiler?
Here are some of the common reasons that your boiler needs to be replaced.

  • If your current boiler is more than ten years old with frequent issues, then you should consider replacing it.
  • Are you constantly in need of an engineer to get your boiler up and running? If your boiler requires many call outs in a year, then it will be a good choice getting your boiler replaced.
  • Have you detected any new sounds coming from the boiler radiators frequently?

Any unusual sounds, mainly those accompanied by vibrations, could indicate an underlying problem.
If your boiler isn’t keeping up with your heating and hot water demands, it’s time to upgrade to a more powerful one.

How to Reduce Boiler Pressure

If the problems with your boiler aren’t more complicated, then you might be able to fix them yourself to reduce the boiler pressure.
Boiler pressure can be caused by a variety of factors. One of the issues you might be able to solve on your own is having excessive water in your boiler. To lower boiler pressure caused by excessive water, make sure this is the issue first. You could do that by turning off the boiler and checking the pressure gauge.
When the pressure is greater than 1.5 bars, it is considered excessive. It’s simple to repair this problem by releasing pressure from a boiler. Most of the time, all you need to do is bleed your radiators with a radiator key to relieve some of the pressure.
Every radiator has a pressure release valve that is easily accessible. This can be turned to help reduce the pressure from the boiler. Only open the radiator valve slightly and allow them to bleed until the extra water in your boiler has been removed, in which you can monitor using the pressure gauge.

Still Boiler Pressure Too High? 

Contact Boiler Engineer near you

If there continues to be too much pressure in boiler, there might be one of the following problems:

  • The boiler expansion vessel must be depressurised.
  • The filling loop has a flaw.

It’s recommended to contact a skilled boiler engineer for their assistance while you are experiencing trouble with your boiler. This will make things a lot easier for you and allow you to solve the problem faster than trying to do it by yourself.
Repair Network’s trained boiler engineers would investigate your issue and assist you in resolving it at your leisure. To schedule an appointment, please contact us

Posted on

Why is my boiler making a noise?

why is my boiler making noise

We won’t pay much attention to our home appliances when they are working as they should. However, we become more interested in them when they start disrupting our lives.

You are here because your boiler is not working well. It’s making an unusual noise and you don’t know the root cause, right? The result is you are stuck with a noisy boiler.
Don’t worry. In this article, we will guide you through diagnosing your boiler problems. Follow these steps to find out why your boiler is making unusual noises.

Check where the noise is coming from

Knowing where the noise is coming from saves a lot of your time and may help you to diagnose the problem quickly. So, check whether the unusual noise is coming from the pipes, the heating system or the radiators.
If you can hear a creaking sound from pipes, it may just be the pipes changing temperature. If so, you don’t have to worry about that.

Look into boiler error codes

Your boiler may show error codes when it is not working correctly. These error codes can help you diagnose the problem. You can easily find these error codes and what they mean in the boiler manual, you can also get access to the boiler manual online.
Keep in mind that not every problem will generate an error code. So, you may need to investigate further.

What type of noise is your boiler making?

This is the next step in identifying the problem. If you give attention to what kind of noise your boiler is making, you may be able to fix it quickly. If so, you can get your boiler repaired and might not need to purchase a new one.
Some boilers make noise when switched off, when switched on some make a rattling noise and some make a noise like a kettle.
Here are some steps you can take to find out why your boiler is making these noises.

Boiler making rattling noises

The rattling noise your boiler is making results from trapped air in the pipework, low water pressure or a frozen condensate pipe. It is common to have a low rattling noise from your boiler, but if it is persistent and gets louder you need to pay attention. You can carry out some simple tasks to diagnose the problem.
Check the water pressure: If your boiler makes a rattling noise, pay close attention to the pressure gauge. Always refer to the manual to see the permissible limits. Usually, if your pressure gauge is showing pressure below 1 bar the pressure is too low.
Check if the system needs bleeding: If air is trapped in the system, you need to bleed the radiators, releasing the pressure. If you ignore the problem, it can lead a more complex issue.
Check for frozen pipes: Frozen pipes cause your boiler to make a rattling noise. You would be able to locate frozen pipes outside your house, and you can identify them because of the white overflow.
Book a Repair

Boiler making a vibrating noise

Your boiler may be making a vibrating noise for one or more of the following reasons:
Loose brackets that need tightening: See if there are any loose brackets. If there are, tighten them. If the problem still persists, have a Gas Safe Registered Engineer perform a boiler check.
Blocked air vent: Check for anything blocking the external pipe. If anything is blocking it, for example leaves, remove them with your hand. If there are any coverings don’t try to remove them with tools.
The problem is in the air filters: If your air filter is not working well, it can lead to a loud vibrating noise. See if your manual has anything that suggests cleaning it. Otherwise, don’t do it. Some things are best when left to professionals.
The circulating pump is too fast: The circulating pump circulates the water from your boiler to your radiators. If the circulating pump’s speed is too high, the boiler will make a vibrating noise. You can lower the speed to get rid of this problem.
Water pressure is too high: When the water temperature is too high, the pressure created or the water boiling causes your boiler to start making a vibrating noise. Look into your manual and set the temperature and/or pressure to the permissible limit.
Contact a Boiler Technician

Boiler making banging noise

A faulty thermostat or a build-up of debris over the boiler’s heat exchanger can lead to your boiler making a loud banging noise. A power flush is required if there is a build-up of debris. A power flush helps removes the sludge from the system, which prevents blockages and improves the heating efficiency of your boiler.
Do not carry out the power flush yourself because you will need an expert to do that.
Book a Repair

Boiler making whistling noise

Is your boiler behaving more like a kettle than a boiler with its whistling and sounding like a kettle? The main cause of this is the accumulation of limescale on the boiler’s heat exchanger. This happens because of the high quantity of minerals such as calcium and magnesium that the water contains. Within the UK, some areas tend to have such a type of water called hard water.
The high quantity of calcium results in limescale accumulation, which is insoluble, on the heat exchangers. Due to this, the water flow is restricted, and water gets trapped in the heat exchanger. This affects the ability to heat the water smoothly. Because of this, the heat exchanger overheats, generates a large amount of steam which expands. The whistling noises are a result of this entire process.
Another reason why the boiler could make whistling noise is the debris piled up around the heat exchanger or a stuck pump that needs replacement.
“Kettling” reduces the efficiency of your boiler, which results in the boiler using more energy to reach the desired temperature level. This can increase your bills. Also, the overworking of your boiler affects its lifespan.
If your boiler is making any of the above noise and still facing issues after checking it, kindly contact us. Our expert engineers will investigate, diagnose and solve your problem a time of your convenience.
Contact a Boiler Engineer Now