boiler repair Sheffield

What different boiler noises mean?

Considering that most boilers make use of gas which be highly dangerous, it can be very frightening for homeowners if they start  to hear strange noises coming from their boilers, so here’s a short breakdown of the different kinds of noises you may hear from your boiler and what they could be trying to tell you…

First things first…

If you hear a noise that you think doesn’t sound quite right – don’t panic! Just because your boiler is making a noise, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is anything wrong. Having said that, there are a few types of noises it is always a good idea to keep an ear out for.

If you hear whistling noises…

When your kettle is almost ready boiler water, you often hear a deep rumbling sound. This common kind of sound is often called ‘kettling’. The most common reason for kettling sounds in your boiler is the same reason that you are likely to hear kettling sounds in your kettle. This is a build up of limescale on the heat exchanger.

 

A build of limescale tends to block the flow of water in your appliance and causes some of the water inside to change state quickly. As the heat expands, it leads to air becoming trapped in the system. Luckily this is one of the easiest things for a gas safe engineer to fix, as this can usually be fixed by simply changing the water pressure in your boiler.

If you hear banging noises…

Banging noises can also be caused by limescale build-up on your boiler’s heat exchanger. Loud banging noises tend to be an issue when over time. The important takeaway for this kind of noise is that it is something that you will need a heating engineer to take a look at.

 

Most modern boilers have safeguards in place to make sure that your boiler can never be at a point where it could explode so don’t panic if you start to notice these kind of noises but at the same time, you are more likely to notice that your boiler is running inefficiently if it does have a build up of limescale.

What to do if you hear these noises?

It’s important to understand that no matter what issues you are having with your boiler, you must never attempt to handle any kind of repair or maintenance yourself.

 

Only Gas Safe registered engineers are allowed to handle any part of gas appliances in the UK by law. This is not only to make sure that you are safe in your home but also to make sure that your boiler is working exactly as it should be and maintained by an engineer that definitely knows what to do.

Need a boiler repair in the Sheffield area?

We understand how important it is to keep your home safe, that’s why we go the extra mile to help homeowners understand what boiler is right for their needs. Get in touch us on 0800 061 4102 or leave us a message here on our website.

commercial gas (Rotherham)

How to make your home Gas Safe?

We all know that gas can be dangerous and how important it is to stay safe. There are many things that you should be on the lookout for such as carbon monoxide (CO) so here’s what you need to know in order to keep your home safe…

Get in touch with a Gas Safe Engineer

It’s important to understand that only engineers that are registered on what is known as the ‘Gas Safe register’ are allowed to work on appliances in the UK. You may remember CORGI as the previous registration scheme that heating engineers used to be part of, but as of 2009, Gas Safe has taken over that role.

 

‘Gas Safe’ is important for homeowners as it gives assurance that the engineer that comes to your home is a professional that understands exactly what is needed to keep you and your family safe from danger. All engineers are spot checked at times to make sure their work is up to standard, have personal ID numbers so they can be easily identified and carry ID cards to all of the job they undertake.

Keep on top of your services

A big part of keeping your home gas safe comes from making sure that you keep your gas appliances annually serviced. This is also very important when you move into a new home so that you can keep track of your property’s full history. If you live in a rented property this is the responsibility of your landlord.

 

Servicing is important as it gives your engineer a chance to not only fix but spot potential future problems before they arise. Regular servicing also happens to help keep your boiler working as efficiently as possible which can save you money in the long term which is always good!

What you need to know about Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is also known as ‘the silent killer’. This is mainly because it is odourless, colourless and tasteless. This means that you cannot rely on your normal senses to keep yourself safe.

Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

We feel that there are 5 key symptoms that you should keep an eye out for. These are: headaches, breathlessness, tiredness, dizziness and a loss of consciousness.

 

Headaches in particular are something to look out for. We all put a headache down to stress or think that we are ‘just tired’. 9 times out of 10 this is correct, but if you find that you or a member of your family are experiencing frequent headache while at home but go away when you leave the house, you may have a carbon monoxide issue.

 

If you do start to notice any of the symptoms we mentioned above, the best thing to do is open all of the windows and doors that you can, leave the house and go to your nearest hospital or doctor.

Need a boiler installation in the Sheffield area?

We understand how important it is to keep your home safe, that’s why we go the extra mile to help homeowners understand what boiler is right for their needs. Get in touch us on 0800 061 4102 or leave us a message here on our website.