Why Is My Central Heating Not Working? (Expert Guide)

Check the gas, electric and water supply

If you’ve recently had building work, then there’s a chance that your gas, electric or most likely your water supply has been switched off. Make sure each of these is turned on and, in the case of the water supply, is fully open. Electrics Make sure to check all the switches on your fuse box. You will generally find the fuse box located under the stairs or in the garage. Gas The gas shut off valve will either be located outside in the garden or under the stairs. In this case, make sure to perform a thorough inspection of the valve. Does it look broken or damaged? If so, leave it be and call a professional plumber. If it’s switched off, and the valve looks in proper working order, then turn it back on. Water If you’ve recently had building work conducted on your property, there is a chance that your water valves were not fully opened. If the water valve is partially closed, then you may be restricting the amount of water entering your home. To fix this, simply ensure the valve is fully open. If the valve appears fully open, but you are still encountering reduced water pressure, then the valve may be broken. If this is the case, do not under any circumstances try to fix it without proper training. Often found under your kitchen sink, a water valve will usually look like a bright yellow handle. Again, if you believe the water valve is broken, contact a plumber immediately.

Check the room thermostat

If you have one, then make sure the room thermostat is turned up and the clock timer is on. If this is turned off, it may be stopping your central heating from working correctly. Most modern homes will have a thermostat located in either a downstairs hallway or in the living room. If you have an older home with an older central heating system, you may not have a room thermostat installed.

Check your boiler's pressure gauge

If you have a pressure gauge on your boiler, it should be set at around 1 bar. If it’s not set at 1 bar, then follow the boiler instructions to reset the pressure gauge. In this case, it’s worth having the central heating manual to hand as the steps to doing this will vary according to the specific system. However, in general, you’ll be completing the following steps: Step1: Turn off your boiler and wait for the system to cool. Step 2: Use the filling link or loop. There are three types:

• External: Attach the filling loop to the corresponding valves and slowly move the lever. Keep doing so until the pressure needle moves into the green zone. Disconnect the external filling loop
• Keyed filling link: Insert the internal filling key into the loop and twist until it is closed. Turn the nearby knob so that water starts filling into the heating system. Do this until the pressure needle moves into the green zone. Turn the knob back to its original position and remove the key
• Keyless filling link: Simply move the filling lever until you hear water entering the heating system. Keep the lever lifted until the pressure needle moves into the green zone. Release the lever

Step 3: Turn on your boiler and check to see if the pressure holds. For a specific guide, read this step by step process by Central Heating Quotes. The boiler gauge is usually located on the front panel of the boiler.

Check the Pilot Light Hasn’t Gone Out

If your system has a permanent pilot light, check it hasn't gone out. The pilot light is a small flame in the central heating system that will alight the gas. The lit gas then heats the water. Occasionally, the pilot light will go out. This can happen for a variety of reasons. If that’s the case, we recommend following this guide by SFGate.

Check the boiler’s timer is set to the right time

If you’ve recently had a power cut, then your boiler’s timer might have reset. To get it working again, simply reset the timer with your desired times. You may need to refer to the boiler’s manual for a reminder on how to do this. It might even worth doing the old “turn it off, turn it back on”.

Run the Heating on Full

A good trick that might just get your central heating working again is to try putting your heating on full for a while. This can occasionally work out a few kinks in the system and might trigger some heat. It’s far from guaranteed to work, but better than immediately spending hundreds on an emergency plumber for a minor issue.

Check Your Pipes Haven’t Frozen

If it's been very cold, the condensate pipe of your boiler can freeze. To unfreeze the pipes, start by: Wrapping the pipes in hot towels Heating up the pipes with a hairdryer Heating the surrounding area with a space heater

Check the Radiators

If you wake up one morning to find that your central heating isn't working, the first thing you should do is inspect your radiators. If even one of the radiators is slightly warm, then there is nothing wrong with the boiler. If this is the case, then it’s likely you need to bleed the radiators. This is a relatively simple process that only takes an hour or two to complete. You can read our complete guide to fixing central heating radiator problems here..

When Do I Need a Plumber to Fix My Central Heating?

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