Boiler Faults

If your home has a heat only or system boiler, it’s important to know they cannot tell the difference between a demand for heating hot water and a demand for central heating like a combi boiler can. 

If you do have this problem with a system or heat only model you need to contact a plumber, not your boiler manufacturer. This is because a system or heat boiler only works off one demand and that is to heat up water — it’s the controls that do the rest.

In the rare event that you find water is dripping from your boiler, do not be alarmed. It could be that a frozen condensate pipe has filled, and the water is backed-up. 

If you’ve ruled out the leak being related to a condensate pipe, here’s what you should do:

1. If the leak is small you may not have to isolate the boiler. Simply put a container down to catch the water (making sure it’s checked regularly so it doesn't overflow) and call an engineer. If the leak is causing damage and there is a lot of water, you will then need to isolate your boiler. Please check your manual on how to do this or contact Ideal Heating. If the boiler is inundated with water, it may be best to use the stopcock and call an engineer.

2. If you have a leak coming from external pipework or a radiator, this is not a boiler fault but rather a plumbing issue. In this case, try to contain the leak if it’s small. If the leak is causing damage and there is a lot of water, you’ll need to isolate your boiler.

3. If the pipe is burst and flooding with water, it may be best to use the stopcock and call an engineer. It’s very important that every household member knows where the stopcock is in case of an emergency.