Булькает котел отопления: Почему закипает вода в отопительном котле? Устраняем проблему

Стук в трубах отопления частного дома, причины треска, почему стучит и щелкает

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Нередким явлением, с которым можно столкнуться в многоквартирных либо частных домах, являются различного рода шумы, исходящие из отопительной системы. Как и любой лишний шум в коммуникационных системах, гудение, треск или стук в трубах отопления имеют свои причины, и если их не устранить, наряду с психологическим дискомфортом для жильцов это может привести к возникновению серьёзных проблем в отопительной системе жилого дома.

Характеристики шума в трубах отопления

Говоря о нежелательных шумовых эффектах в трубах отопительной системы, следует вначале упомянуть в нескольких словах о разнице между шумом и звуком. Если звуковые волны характеризуются определённой частотой и амплитудой, то шумовым колебаниям свойственны беспорядочность, отсутствие равномерности и ритмичности. Уровень шума измеряется в децибелах, и нормальные его значения составляют до 30-40 децибел в квартире и до 45-55 децибел – на улице. То, что превосходит данный уровень, является отклонением от нормы и причиняет человеку акустический и психологический дискомфорт.

Установка коммуникационных систем в жилище производится с таким расчётом, чтобы исходящий от них шум не ощущался жильцами и укладывался в рамки санитарных норм. Это относится и к трубам отопления, а потому появление в них гула, треска, стука и прочих слышимых шумов говорит о возникновении неполадок в отопительной системе.

В качестве исключения стоит упомянуть шум, который возникает в отопительных коммуникациях во время первого запуска системы. Такой стук или треск в трубах отопления не является чем-то необычным – он обычно связан с перепадами давления в подающем и принимающем трубопроводах при первой подаче в них воды. В дальнейшем, по мере заполнения водой всех трубопроводов системы, шумы в них ослабевают, а затем и прекращаются полностью.

Шумовые эффекты, возникающие вследствие неисправностей в системе, могут иметь различный характер: гул, треск, щелчки, стуки, бурление и т. д. Причины их могут быть связаны с ошибками, допущенными при установке труб отопления, либо возникнуть в процессе эксплуатации (прочитайте: «Причины появления шума в трубе отопления и способы устранения»). Различные по характеру шумы имеют различное происхождение, а потому выявление разновидности шума играет важную роль для установления его причин.

Причины гудения и свиста в трубах отопительной системы

Свист или гул в трубах отопления встречаются довольно часто, и среди основных факторов их возникновения можно выделить следующие:

• протечки в отопительной системе;
• появление сужений в просвете труб, мешающих нормальной циркуляции воды;
• использование в некоторых квартирах или помещениях жилого дома труб меньшего диаметра, чем в остальной части отопительных коммуникаций.

Если причина гудения труб неясна, следует прежде всего уяснить, нет ли в отопительной системе протечек. С этой целью нужно обследовать все квартиры и помещения в доме, если же утечка воды в них не обнаружится, тогда ещё и подвал, в котором обычно локализуются узловые водопроводные и отопительные конструкции.

Чаще всего протечки образуются в свищах трубопроводных конструкций отопления либо в вентильных соединениях. Если такая утечка действительно имеет место, обнаружить её при внимательном исследовании обычно несложно: как правило, из проблемного участка течёт небольшая струйка воды и выходит маленькое облако горячего пара. Струя воды может обнаружиться и на некотором отдалении от места утечки, а гудение труб может иногда распространяться на довольно значительные расстояния.

Если внимательная ревизия выявляет отсутствие протечек в системе, тогда другой вероятной причиной является снижение проходимости труб на определённом участке. Местоположение данного дефекта определяется на слух путём исследования всей системы отопления. Выявленный проблемный участок подлежит замене. В любом случае, для починки и восстановления повреждённого участка правильным будет вызвать сантехника, поскольку для неспециалиста данная задача может оказаться не под силу.

Почему слышны щелчки, треск и стуки

Появление щёлканья или треска в трубах отопительной системы обычно говорит о том, что внутри коммуникаций появились инородные твёрдые частицы. Ударение таких небольших частичек о стенки труб как раз и является непосредственной причиной подобных шумов.

Как правило, стучат и щелкают трубы отопления при возникновении следующих неполадок:

• изнашивание некоторых узловых элементов системы;
• неисправности вентильных клапанов;
• расширения металлических труб отопления под воздействием тепла.

В большинстве случаев, стук в трубах отопления частного дома или многоквартирного здания может быть устранён путём простого слива засорённой воды из отопительной системы с её заменой на чистую воду. Если же такая промывка не приводит к устранению шумов, тогда неисправные участки системы подлежат замене. В частности, обследованию подлежат вентильные клапаны, проблемы с которыми нередко являются причиной подобного шума.

Другой причиной того, почему стучит в трубах отопления, может явиться тепловое расширение металлических конструкций трубопроводов. Обычно в этом случае треск и стуки бывают негромкими и носят периодический характер. Расширение труб может приводить к небольшим перемещениям и нарушению крепления некоторых элементов конструкции, что и приводит к возникновению шумов подобного рода. Для решения данной проблемы требуется осмотр мест фиксации различных деталей и элементов, и при необходимости их повторный крепёж.

Наконец, ещё одна причина, могущая привести к щелчкам и стуку в трубах отопления – это так называемый гидроудар. Он возникает в тех случаях, когда вода, циркулирующая в трубах, мгновенно перекрывается путём закрытия вентиля, клапана или крана. Поскольку сжимаемость воды практически равна нулю, а остановка водной струи не может произойти сразу, на короткое время в месте резкого закрытия крана давление может подскочить на десятки атмосфер. Это может привести к неполадкам в работе вентилей, клапанов, резьбовых соединений с возникновением щелчков или треска, и даже к выходу из строя некоторых деталей. Следовательно, чтобы этого избежать, не следует резко перекрывать поток жидкости, циркулирующей в системе отопления.

Бурление воды в отопительных трубах и батареях

Иногда приходится сталкиваться с такой проблемой, как бурление или бульканье воды внутри отопительных коммуникаций. Такой шум возникает вследствие появления внутри воды пузырьков воздуха. Помимо шумовых эффектов, ещё одним нежелательным последствием такой проблемы является снижение температуры теплоносителя и эффективности работы системы в целом.

При возникновении бурления или булькающих шумов систему следует проверить на наличие уклонов и перекосов, в которых может образовываться прослойка воздуха и застаиваться в них. В ряде случаев, для вывода пузырьков воздуха из отопительной системы, на верхних этажах в конструкцию устанавливаются специальные воздухоотводящие краны. В других случаях может потребоваться коррекция перекосов и уклонов, для чего требуется перекрытие и остановка работы отопления во всём доме.

Прочие источники шумов в отопительной системе

Помимо тех причин, о которых было упомянуто выше, источниками различных шумов в отопительных коммуникациях могут быть следующие факторы:

• резкие скачки давления по тем или иным техническим причинам;
• несоответствие теплоносителя технологическим стандартам;
• шумы, исходящие из насосов в котельной.

Для предотвращения резких перепадов давления в системах отопления частных или многоквартирных домов рекомендуется устанавливать специальные регуляторные устройства. Иногда причиной шумов могут быть и насосы, расположенные в котельной, работа которых может повлечь возникновение резонанса в водоструйном элеваторе системы отопления. В ряде случаев возникшее гудение или треск удаётся устранить путём установки клапана между элеватором и трубой.

Для предотвращения появления шумов в трубах отопления рекомендуется избегать использования резьбовых вентилей, а вместо них устанавливать шаровые краны, закрывающие водный поток путём поворота на 90°. Они намного более надёжны для таких систем, и на их работу почти не влияют потоки теплоносителя или прочие механические факторы внутри конструкции.

Стук в котлах и насосах

Котельное оборудование, используемое для обустройства отопительных систем, может работать на различных видах газообразного, жидкого или твёрдого топлива, либо также на электричестве. Однако работа котлов любого типа может сопровождаться теми или иными побочными процессами, которые нередко оказывают воздействие на отопительную систему и могут быть причиной шумов в ней.

В частности, дровяное или угольное твёрдое топливо может приводить к засорению дымохода со снижением силы тяги. Работа котельных на жидком дизтопливе может сопровождаться его неполным сгоранием и скоплением копоти. Всё это нередко приводит к шумам и гудению в отопительных коммуникациях, и требует мероприятий по устранению указанных проблем.

Возможно появление шумов также вследствие неполадок в работе насосов, вентилей либо прочих устройств и механизмов, расположенных в котельной или в подвале. Решением проблемы в таких ситуациях является починка неисправных элементов либо их замена.

В целом, любая конкретная ситуация с возникновением шумов в отопительной системе требует индивидуального подхода, и универсальных методов здесь быть не может. В ряде случаев выявление и устранение неисправностей своими силами может оказаться очень затруднительным, и в таком положении единственным выходом из ситуации является обращение к квалифицированным специалистам.

90000 Boiler making gurgling kettle sounds? And what does ignition lockout mean? Here’s what to do if your boiler needs repair 90001 90002 90003 BOILERS have an annoying habit of breaking down just when you need them and then there’s the nightmare of getting an engineer round before you freeze to death — or worse a family row could be sparked. 90004 90005 90002 Here’s what to do to make sure you recognise signs yours is about to go kaput and cost you a packet. 90005 90002 1 90005 Your are not alone… Many of us are tormented by our boilersCredit: Getty — Contributor 90010 90003 Boiler mak 90004 90003 ing gurgling kettle sounds? 90004 90015 90002 Hearing this when your boiler fires may mean your radiators will not be heated properly. 90005 90002 The noises could be caused by air in the system, a blockage or sediment at the bottom of the boiler which may need to be flushed out by a professional. 90005 90002 A frozen condensate pipe may also be to blame. 90005 90002 If a frozen pipe is the cause will need to be thawed by using hot water bottles and heat wraps — but only if the pipe is accessible at ground level.90005 90010 90003 What does ignition lockout mean? 90004 90015 90002 This mostly happens to older boilers but it can happen to new ones as well. 90005 90002 Boiler makers install the lockout feature — which causes shutdown — because certain features are not working which could affect safety. 90005 90002 But not all shutdown triggers stem from something seriously wrong. 90005 90002 It can be because of a simple glitch like a power cut or just low pressure. 90005 90002 Normally, there is a reset button on the front of your boiler.90005 90002 Your instruction manual will tell you to press this in order to reset the boiler to stop the lockout. 90005 90010 Why does the heating stop when I turn the hot water on? 90015 90002 If the diverter valve in your boiler is faulty, this will cause the heating to switch off whenever you turn the hot water on. 90005 90002 This issue can cause frustration when the radiator will not get warm — when actually the heating could have been flipped off by someone taking a hot shower. 90005 90002 The diverter valve is used in combination boilers to divert the flow of plasma between the domestic hot water heat exchanger and the radiator.90005 90002 Resolving this issue will require a new part and an installation job, which should be carried out by a plumber unless you have expert knowledge. 90005 90002 90051 ‘HEADBUTT INJURIES’ 90052 Amber had ‘2 black eyes’ on James Corden show after Depp ‘headbutt’ 90005 90002 90051 MIND THE RAT 90052 Banksy dons Covid disguise to spray paint sneezing rats on busy Tube train 90005 90002 90051 DIRTY LAUNDRY 90052 Court shocked by pic of ‘Amber Heard’s poo’ in bed that led to Depp divorce 90005 90002 90051 MISSING BABY 90052 Girl, 1, found after frantic four-day search in London 90005 90002 90051 BBQ WARNING 90052 Mum shares tears of boy, 5, whose dog died after eating BBQ leftovers on beach 90005 90002 Live Blog 90005 90002 90051 Covid updates 90052 Corona UK LIVE: Brits WILL NOT have to wear face masks in bars — latest news 90005 90010 90003 What do I do if my boiler needs repair? 90004 90015 90002 If you experience boiler lockout more than once or twice, or you continue to hear odd noises you should get it checked out by a gas engineer.90005 90002 This could be costly so find out if you are covered for boiler repair bills. 90005 90002 Check if it is still within its warranty or whether any insurance policies will pay out — most have 24 emergency hotlines. 90005 90002 You may have also got a policy out with your energy suppliers. 90005 90002 Do not try to fix your own boiler if you have not the correct qualifications, that can be extremely dangerous. 90005 90002 To find a reputable engineer check Gas Safety Register which keeps a list of those with the right qualification.90005 .90000 Why Is My Central Heating So Noisy? 90001 90002 90003 90004 90005 90006 90002 A noisy central heating system or boiler can be caused by a number of issues and the type of noise (clanking, banging, buzzing, dripping, humming or gurgling), as well as the location, will help you to find the fault, which could include: 90006 90009 90010 Build-up of limescale 90011 90010 Loose component or pipes 90011 90010 Radiators need bleeding 90011 90010 Overheating 90011 90010 Leak 90011 90020 90002 We’ve put together a short overview of the different kinds of noises you might be hearing and what they usually mean, however we always recommend getting a diagnosis by a professional engineer before taking any action.90006 90023 90002 90006 90023 90027 Finding the cause of a noisy central heating system 90028 90002 The type of noise you’re hearing is a key factor in finding the fault that’s causing all of the noise. 90006 90031 90032 90033 90034 Type of Noise 90035 90034 Location 90035 90034 Possible Causes 90035 90040 90033 90042 Banging 90043 90042 Boiler or pipes 90043 90042 Build up of limescale on the heat exchanger (kettling) or loose components or pipework 90043 90040 90033 90042 Clanking 90043 90042 Boiler or pipes 90043 90042 Boiler fan obstructed or loose pipework 90043 90040 90033 90042 Buzzing 90043 90042 Boiler or thermostat 90043 90042 Worn out or malfuctioning parts that probably need to be replaced.If the thermostat is buzzing then there’s probably a build-up of dirt or dust on the conductor and it should be replaced. 90043 90040 90033 90042 Humming 90043 90042 Boiler or central heating pump 90043 90042 Boilers tend to hum during operation but if it’s becoming more notceable then there might be a loose part (most likely the central heating pump) 90043 90040 90033 90042 Dripping 90043 90042 Anywhere around the central heating system 90043 90042 Water leaking 90043 90040 90033 90042 Gurgling 90043 90042 Radiators 90043 90042 Air in pipes blocking the flow of water around the radiators or a low flow rate 90043 90040 90033 90042 Whistling 90043 90042 Boiler 90043 90042 A whistling that resembles the sound of an old kettle boiling is a strong indication of limescale on the heat exchanger — a powerflush will be needed to resolve.90043 90040 90097 90098 90027 Is there a leak? 90028 90002 Should you hear a dripping, or another noise that sounds like water coming from your central heating system, then there might be a leak and you should turn your heating and mains water supply off immediately. Even the smallest of drips could eventually lead to something larger and lead to damage. 90006 90002 Once the water supply is off, do not attempt to fix the fault yourself. Instead, contact a fully-qualified heating engineer.90006 90027 What is kettling? 90028 90002 If you’re hearing noises from your boiler that resemble a kettle boiling, this is something known as ‘kettling’. 90006 90002 Central heating boilers heat water using a heat exchanger which, much like a kitchen kettle, builds up a coat of limescale over time. The limescale flakes away and floats to the bottom which over time causes a blocage and restricts the flow of water. This means that the heat exchanger is heating hot water, but can not send it off round the house as usual.The trapped water then boils, steams and expands in the system which creates pressure and ‘kettling’ noises. 90006 90002 It may sound as if the boiler is about to explode but do not panic; modern boilers are equipped with safety devices that will turn the system off if they detect too much pressure. It is not, however, advisable to ignore the noises as this problem will reduce your system’s efficiency and cause long term damage. It’s also possible for other substances like rust, dirt or even air, to build-up in the system and cause blockages.90006 90027 Whistling sound from the boiler 90028 90002 Whistling is a noise associated with limescale build up and kettling, but could also indicate trapped air in pipes or a loss of pressure. While it should be relatively simple for an engineer to release the air, the problem is probably being caused by a fault elsewhere so may need some investigation. 90006 90002 To clear the debris, you will need a heating engineer to perform a powerflush which involves various chemicals being flushed through the system to clear the limescale.90006 90002 If a powerflush is needed, your heating engineer might recommend having a magnetic filter installed. Magnetic filters attract any debris that’s circulating around the heating system before it has chance to form a blockage. 90006 90027 Gurgling noise from radiators or pipes 90028 90002 Excess air in the pipes or radiators is likely to be the reason for gurgling noises. If there’s too much air in the system it can act as a blockage, preventing the hot water from circulating properly which then leads to the trapped water overheating and making a gurgling noise.90006 90002 To clear the excess air from the radiators, they need to be bled. Our guide to bleeding your radiators can take you through the process step-by-step. 90006 90002 Another cause of gurgling noises from the central heating system can be a frozen condensate pipe. The condensate pipe sends waste water away from the boiler and outside down a drain. During the winter months the condensate can be prone to freezing which causes a blockage and prevents the water getting out. At this point your boiler should lock out until the pipe has been thawed.90006 90002 It’s possible to thaw a frozen condensate pipe yourself — find out how to thaw a frozen condensate pipe — but if you do not feel comfortable then you can get free quotes from local heating engineers. 90006 90002 You might also want to take a look at the flow rate. To operate effectively, modern boilers need a certain flow rate and if it’s too low, you might hear a gurgling sound. The flow rate for your boiler can be found in the manual but you could also ask the manufacturer or installer.90006 90023 90002 90006 90023 90027 Knocking in central heating pipes 90028 90002 When you turn the central heating on, hot water passes through pipes and the heat causes them to expand and contract. As this happens, it’s totally normal for your system to make some knocking, clanking or tapping sounds. 90006 90002 However, in some cases it may be that the pipes are not fitted in the correct position e.g. too close to floorboards. If you notice that pipes around your home are knocking against the floor or wall, you should contact a heating engineer to take a look as this could eventually lead to damage.90006 90002 These types of knocking sounds can also be a sign of air in the system. As we mentioned earlier, air can be cleared by bleeding the radiators. 90006 90027 Humming, buzzing or vibrating 90028 90002 Any form of humming, buzzing or vibrating could mean that a part of your central heating system is not working at their best e.g. the thermostat, central heating pump, pressure gauge or filling loop. 90006 90002 It could be the case that the settings simply need to be adjusted. For example, many modern central heating pumps have 3 speed settings and if it’s set too high the pump can begin to vibrate.Before reducing the setting, it might be worth consulting with your heating engineer as the pump might be at a high setting for a reason. 90006 90027 Do you live in a hard water area? 90028 90002 If you live in an area with hard water — water with a high mineral count — then it’s worth installing a water softener which will replace the particles found in hard water with sodium. This will greatly reduce the chances of limescale building up within the central heating system in the future. 90006 90027 Do not ignore a noisy central heating system 90028 90002 It’s important that you do not ignore unusual sounds coming from your central heating.Even if things seem to be working fine at the moment, the system is giving you a not so subtle warning of a fault somewhere in the system. 90006 90002 At the very least this could be making your system less efficient and costing you more in energy bills, or it could be something that worsens over time causing damage that could be both costly and dangerous. 90006 90027 Finding a heating engineer to fix your noisy central heating system 90028 90002 In some cases, such as bleeding a radiator, it’s possible to tackle the cause of your noisy central heating system yourself but for the majority of causes, you will need to hire a fully-qualified heating engineer.90006 90002 As heating engineers all offer their own rates, we highly recommend comparing multiple quotes to give you the greatest chance of finding the most competitive price. Using Boiler Guide you can get free quotes from Gas Safe registered engineers in your area who will diagnose your noisy boiler and give you some professional advice. 90006 90023 90002 90006 90023 .90000 New central heating — gurgling & running water noises 90001 Hi all, 90002 I have a query that may or may not be a major problem but I’d very much appreciate some expert advice to be sure. 90003 90002 I recently had my central heating boiler replaced. As it was previously an old gravity fed system it was also converted to fully pumped with the pump and electrics moved upstairs to the airing cupboard. Also had thermostatic values ​​fitted to all rads except for bathrooms and hallway, where the wireless room thermostat is sited.90003 90002 Some extra info: 90007 • New boiler is a Potterton Promax HE Plus condensing boiler, fitted downstairs in kitchen (same site as old boiler) 90007 • Boiler thermostat set to almost max 90007 • Hot water tank stat set to 60 deg 90007 • Motorised 2-way valves fitted on each of radiator and hot water circuits below pump in airing cupboard 90007 • Pump speed on max (engineer said to leave this way) 90007 • Gate valve in between motorised valve and hot water tank (turned about half way on / off) 90007 • Heating system is microbore (house is late 70’s build) with rad feed pipes under floorboards upstairs and in concrete floor downstairs 90007 • 6 rads upstairs 5 downstairs 90007 • System had full flush prior to new boiler install 90003 90002 First of all the good news.The effectiveness of both the central heating and the hot water is excellent. Certainly radiators are much hotter and heat up much more quickly than with the old system. All radiators get hot and there are not any cold spots. Hot water also fine. So I have no complaints with this at all. 90003 90002 My query is with the noises, of which there a few which may or may not be related: 90003 90002 1. When the boiler fires upon timer coming on and request for heat from the radiators, there is what I can best describe as a gushing and gurgling of water from all around the pump area.Now I know the pump will obviously make a noise when it starts up but it seems to be all around the piping gurgling for quite probably 10 seconds. Can be quite loud. No banging just gurgling and glugging. Noticeably worse on initial morning start up from cold when the odd glugging sounds can go on for half hour or so. Eventually goes away once warmed up but also then gurgles, albeit less, when boiler kicks in again when further request for heat. 90003 90002 2. Trickling water sound down the radiator hot feed pipe from pump leading to downstairs radiators.Can get quite loud (like tap running). Only makes noise when downstairs rads are warming up (ie no noise until upstairs rads are hot and downstairs rads then get heat. No noise when heating switches off) 90003 90002 3. Water trickling sound coming from pipes going in / out boiler, again like a tap running slowly 90003 90002 I only get the sounds when the heating circuit is running (ie it’s fine when just hot water cirtcuit) 90003 90002 So my obvious first thought was air in rad cirtcuit so bled all the rads.Which were fine. Tried isolating to a single rad and bleeding. No air all fine. Bled pump by loosening screw in centre, also fine. Also checked header tank in loft to make sure it had water and water was on. Fine again. I also tried different pump speed settings, no change. 90003 90002 So I called the company who fitted it, who have been helpful and came out to inspect right away. They checked various things but pretty much said its working fine and that the noises would eventually go away. 90003 90002 I guess my expectation was for a system that was quieter than the old one rather than noisier, but this is not the case.90003 90002 Any advice very much appreciated. Thanks! 90003 90002 90003 .90000 Top 10 Most Common Boiler Problems 90001 90002 90003 90004 90002 An expensive inconvenience at the best of times, the majority of boiler breakdowns occur during the cold winter months, when boilers — having been inactive for long periods — are forced back into life, essentially putting considerable strain on your central heating system as it works to heat your home during the winter. 90004 90002 While some common boiler problems can be addressed without the need to call in a heating engineer, others will require the services of a qualified and experienced professional.If in doubt, it’s always best to seek professional help from a reputable engineer. 90008 90008 90010 90011 Common Boiler Problems: 90012 90013 90004 90015 90016 No Heat or Hot Water 90017 90016 Leaking and Dripping 90017 90016 Kettling 90017 90016 Pilot Light Goes Out 90017 90016 Low Boiler Pressure 90017 90016 Frozen Condensate Pipe 90017 90016 Thermostat Issues 90017 90016 Strange Banging, Whistling or Gurgling Noises 90017 90016 Radiators Not Heating Up 90017 90016 Boiler Keeps Switching Itself Off 90017 90036 90037 1.No Heat or Hot Water 90038 90002 Potential causes include broken diaphragms and airlocks, failure of motorised valves, issues with the thermostat or low water levels. A good place to start is to check if your boiler is not working because of an issue with boiler pressure or your thermostat. 90004 90002 If you think you may have a broken diaphragm, airlock or valve it may need to be replaced with a new part. We recommend calling out a Gas Safe registered engineer who will be able to thoroughly diagnose the problem and replace any broken parts where necessary.90004 90037 2. Leaking and Dripping 90038 90002 A variety of issues could cause your boiler to leak water. It will depend on where the water is leaking from to determine the cause — however you should never try to fix a leaking gas boiler yourself, always call out a Gas Safe registered engineer. 90004 90002 The most common cause is a broken internal component, such as a pump seal or pressure valve. If the leak is coming from the pressure valve it may be a case that your boiler pressure is too high.If it’s coming from the pump seal, it may have become worn out and need replacing. 90004 90002 You may also find your boiler is leaking around the pipes or tank — this can be a result of corrosion or in some cases where the system has not been fitted properly. In any case, we recommend calling out an engineer who will be able to diagnose and fix the issue for you (in in the worst case advise if you need to replace your boiler). 90004 90002 Find out more in Why is my Boiler Leaking? 90004 90037 3.Kettling 90038 90002 Hearing a strange rumbling noise similar to when a kettle is boiling? When lime scale or sludge builds up on your boiler’s heat exchanger you can get something called kettling. When these deposits build up in your boiler, they can restrict the flow of water within the heat exchanger. This can overheat the water, causing it to steam and boil (causing the kettle-like sounds). 90004 90002 Kettling is more common in areas with hard water, but can also affect boilers in soft water areas.Not only does it cause your boiler to work harder and thus cost more to run, it can also shorten the system’s life. If your boiler is kettling, it’s advisable to call out a gas safe registered engineer who will likely flush out your system to remove the build-up of these deposits and ensure the system is working properly once more. 90004 90037 4. Pilot Light Goes Out 90038 90002 The pilot light is a small blue flame that’s kept alight to light a larger burner. If it keeps going out then it could be caused by a broken thermocouple stopping the gas supply, a draught blowing the pilot light out or a deposit built up in the pilot light.90004 90002 Before trying to reignite the pilot light, it’s very important to check that there are not any issues with the gas supply. If your gas stopcock is on but your boiler is not receiving any gas, or if none of your other gas appliances are working, then you should contact your gas supplier. You can then try relighting the pilot light yourself — ensuring you follow the instructions found in your boiler’s manual for igniting the pilot light. 90004 90002 If neither of these things work you should call out a Gas Safe registered engineer.Always remember that you should never carry out any work on your own gas boiler. 90004 90037 5. Low Boiler Pressure 90038 90002 Checking the pressure of your boiler could not be simpler, just take a look at the built-in pressure gauge. If you find that the needle is below 1, then there might be an issue with low boiler pressure and your central heating system will not function properly. 90004 90002 There a number of reasons why this may be happening: 90004 90073 90016 A water leak in the system 90017 90016 The pressure relief valve needs replacing 90017 90016 Recently bled radiators 90017 90080 90002 You should start by checking for a visible leak in the system, if you find one then call a registered engineer, if not, you could try re-pressurising the system.If you do not feel comfortable doing this then contact a professional but if you want to give it a go then it’s important to follow the instructions in your heating systems ‘manual. 90004 90002 90084 90004 90037 6. Frozen Condensate Pipe 90038 90002 All condensing boilers, whether Combi, System or Regular, have a condensate pipe which transports acidic water, caused by waste gas, away from the boiler. In most cases, this pipe will run outside into a drain and because of its location it faces the risk of freezing during the winter months.90004 90002 If the condensate pipe has frozen then your boiler will probably display a fault code or warning notification. To locate the condensate pipe, it’s the plastic pipe (usually white and roughly 2cm wide) and should lead outside of your property into a drain. 90004 90002 You can thaw a frozen condensate pipe using a hot water bottle, microwaveable heating pack or warm cloth on the frozen part of the pipe. Alternatively hot, rather than boiling, water can be poured over it. After thawing the pipe, you might need to reset the boiler to fire it up again.90004 90002 While it’s possible to do this yourself, if you feel even the slightest bit unsafe then do not hesitate to contact a qualified engineer. 90004 90037 7. Thermostat Issues 90038 90002 If the thermostat is losing accuracy or turning the heating on / off when it’s not supposed to it might be time to invest in a new one. It’s worth making a couple of common sense checks first though, as sometimes these can be easily overlooked. Check your thermostat to ensure it’s in the on position and that it is set to the correct settings i.e time and schedule — it’s always possible that it could have been knocked. 90004 90002 One other consideration to make is that your home might be warmer than you think and a thermostat will not allow the boiler to heat your home higher than the temperature it has been set at. If this is the case then try increasing it in very small increments until you find the temperature that’s right for you. 90004 90002 If none of the above apply it’s possible that your thermostat may have malfunctioned or lost accuracy over time, in which case it is probably time to consider a replacement.90004 90104 90002 90004 90104 90037 8. Strange Banging, Whistling or Gurgling Noises 90038 90002 Air in the system is a common cause, alternatively it could be that the water pressure is too low or it’s kettling. Imminent pump failure, particularly in older systems, could also be responsible for strange banging noises. 90004 90002 You might be able to determine the type of problem your boiler is having based on the type of noise it is making. For example a noise similar to that of a boiling kettle is usually a result of Kettling.Our guide to central heating noises can help you determine the cause of your noisy boiler. 90004 90037 9. Radiators Not Heating Up 90038 90002 In the case that some of your radiators are not heating up then there could be a build up of sludge or air in the system. If only the bottom of your radiator is getting hot then you might need to bleed the radiator. This is fairly straightforward and does not require an engineer but if you do not feel comfortable doing it then contact a professional. 90004 90002 If certain radiators are not getting hot then your radiators could need balancing, which can also be done without the help of an engineer but only if you feel confident doing it.The process involves adjusting the valves on all of the radiators in your property, to ensure each is getting enough hot water to work effectively. Our guide to balancing radiators can take you through the process. 90004 90002 Should you try bleeding and balancing your radiators but have no luck then you could well have an issue with sludge build up preventing a free flow of hot water to the radiators. A professional engineer can remove this build up by chemically cleaning or flushing the system, this is something that you should not try yourself.90004 90002 90123 90004 90037 10. Boiler Keeps Switching Itself Off 90038 90002 Could be low water pressure, a problem with the thermostat or a lack of water flow due to a closed valve, air or the pump not circulating the water in the system properly. We’ve covered each of these issues in more detail above, but if you still can not identify the cause we recommend calling out a Gas Safe registered engineer to take a look at your boiler. 90004 90037 Should I Replace My Boiler? 90038 90002 If your boiler was installed over 10 years ago then its about time to consider a replacement boiler.Older boilers are more susceptible to faults and do not run as efficiently as they once might have done. Not taking action will lead to more and more faults and eventually a broken boiler. 90004 90002 A brand new boiler will often come with a parts and labour warranty, help to lower your heating bills and, most importantly, make your home safer. 90004 90104 90002 90004 90104 .