The controls for a boiler can cause many problems if they fail or malfunction. Checking your thermostat, programmer/ time switches and radiator valves is a good idea, however do not attempt to do any complex servicing or repair work on your heating system yourself as the skills of professionals such as Swiss Cottage Plumbers can keep your boilers and heating system fully maintained and serviced regularly as part of their comprehensive service.


With the passage of time a boiler thermostat can lose its accuracy by not reading temperature settings correctly and in turn switching the heat on/off at silly times. While a gas boiler engineer such a Swiss Cottage Plumber can clean and recalibrate your old thermostat, it might be wise to have him install a new one. A Programmable thermostat warm your house when you need it and turn the heat down when you don’t they can cut heating bills by 10-20 percent. The hot water and heating are controlled by the timed /off/ constant switches found on your boiler. Check that the LCD display is reading accurately. If you have a thermostatic valve, turn up the thermostat. If you have a conventional lock shield valve, remove the plastic cover and adjust the setting. Should nothing happen after you’ve adjusted the settings, you have a fault with your radiator valve and will need to call a Gas Safe registered professional to drain the system and replace it. There is a pipe that carries the condensation from a boiler to the outside drain. When the weather is really cold, the condensation freezes resulting in a blockage causing a ‘backing up’ to the boiler that will cause it to stop. The warning signs that the condensate pipe may be frozen are your boiler’s display showing a ‘fault code’ or warning light as well as gurgling or bubbling sounds coming from the boiler or the even the condensate pipe itself.