What to do if you don’t have hot water
Hot water is something that we all use multiple times a day for cleaning the dishes, taking a shower or bath or simply washing our hands.
It is all too easy to take this for granted until the time comes where you go to turn on the tap and freezing cold water is the only thing that comes gushing out.
No-one want to deal with central heating problems especially in the heart of winter and a complete lack of hot water can certainly be classed as a pretty significant problem.
Before you get in touch with a professional there are a few different things that you can check that might be the cause of your lack of heat and are easily fixable.
These include:
- A tripped fuse – If your boiler isn’t the only appliance not working, a trip to the fuse box may solve all your issues.
- Unlit pilot light – If your pilot light has gone out, follow the manufacturers guide on how to relight it. If this doesn’t work or the light keeps going out, call an engineer.
- Lack of Pressure – Re-pressurising your boiler may give it the boost it needs to start pumping out heat once again. Bear in mind if this is indeed the issue you will probably get some heat from your boiler even if it is not satisfactory.
- Reset Required – Yes, we really are going to suggest that you turn your boiler on and off again. Most boilers have a reset button so find it and give it a go. It might not work but if it does it will save you a lot of time and stress.
Frozen pipes
The winter is the worst possible time to be left without water but it is also one of the most common. One of the biggest reasons for this is that the freezing temperatures outside can lead to pipes being frozen and the whole system being blocked up.
If you think this might be the case, venture outside and take a look at the condensate pipe located on the exterior of the property. Pour some warm water over the pipe and see if that helps matters. If it does, consider how you could better insulate the pipe in the future.
Call a Gas Safe Engineer
If you have a gas boiler and aren’t getting any hot water, the best thing to do is to contact a Gas Safe engineer.
No matter if it is both your heating and hot water that aren’t working, or your hot water alone, these expertly trained professionals will be able to quickly diagnose the problem and hopefully fix it with as little disruption as possible.
If you are unsure where to find a Gas Safe Engineer, the Gas Safe Register is a good place to start. If your boiler is still under warranty, even better, you can simply call up your boiler installer and arrange for them to come a take a look free of charge.
