Local Heating Engineers in Bideford

Pressure loss in a sealed central heating system is usually caused by a water leak somewhere in the system — this could be at a radiator valve, a pipe joint, the boiler's pressure relief valve, or an internal boiler component. A slow leak can be difficult to locate. If you are regularly re-pressurising your boiler, this indicates a leak that should be investigated and repaired by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Cold radiators are most commonly caused by trapped air (bleed the radiator to release it), sludge build-up restricting flow (a power flush may be required), or incorrect system balancing (the flow rate to individual radiators needs adjusting). A heating engineer can diagnose the cause and advise on the most appropriate remedy.

Modern boilers display fault codes when they lock out, which are manufacturer-specific codes indicating the type of fault detected. Common categories include ignition failures, flame sensor faults, pressure errors, and temperature sensor faults. You can look up your boiler's specific error codes in the manual or on the manufacturer's website. Note the code and share it with your Bideford engineer — it will assist with diagnosis.

Kettling (a rumbling or banging noise during operation) is most commonly caused by limescale or sludge build-up on the heat exchanger, restricting flow and causing localised boiling. It is more common in hard water areas. A descale treatment or power flush may resolve the issue, though on older boilers with significant limescale accumulation, replacement may be the more cost-effective long-term solution.

On combi boilers, this is often caused by a faulty diverter valve — a component that switches the boiler's output between heating the radiators and heating the domestic hot water. A faulty diverter valve can be replaced by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Thermistor faults (temperature sensors) can also cause this symptom. An engineer can diagnose the root cause with a few checks.