Problems with gas supply and appliances
Got no gas?
If you have a gas hob, check if your hob is working:
a. If your hob isn’t working, check if your gas meter is switched on. There is a lever next to your gas meter that can be moved to cut off your gas supply. Horizontal is off, and vertical is on.
b. If your gas lever is in the vertical ‘on’ position, call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
c. If your lever is in the off position, turn off all gas appliances and pilot lights, then rotate the valve handle into the ‘on’ position.
If your hob is working but you’re having problems with your heating or hot water, the problem could be with your boiler.
How to check your boiler
It’s worth finding out whether you can solve a boiler issue yourself before calling an engineer. Below is a checklist, designed to help you solve smaller problems or decide if you really do need to get an expert involved.
Check the fuse box: If your boiler isn’t working but other gas and electrical appliances are, you should check your fuse box to make sure a switch hasn’t tripped and cut the power to your boiler.
Is the pilot light on? Check whether your boiler’s pilot light is still on. If it has blown out, you can try relighting it by following your manufacturer’s instructions, if it keeps blowing out you will need to call an engineer. You can call a gas safety engineer on 0800 408 5500.
If you think you can smell gas, don’t attempt to relight the pilot light, contact the Gas Emergency Line on 0800 111 999.
Could it be a water pressure issue? Your boiler works best when the water pressure is between 1 and 1.5 on the bar. If the pressure’s not quite high enough, you can adjust it carefully using the filling loop.
Is your boiler’s timer correct? Your boiler’s timer can be thrown off by power cuts or accidental knocks, so you should double check that yours is set correctly. If you’re unsure about how to reset your boiler’s timer, check your boiler manual.
Do you have a water tank or cylinder? If you do, the problem might lie with the thermostat/programmer on the tank or cylinder. Check to make sure it’s displaying the right settings and if not, change them accordingly.
Do you need to reset your boiler? Boilers require the occasional reset for all sorts of reasons, and not all of them are serious. Once you’ve located your reset button, try resetting it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If your reset button is inside the boiler’s casing, you’ll have to leave this to a Gas Safety engineer.
Have you tried turning it off and on again? If you still don’t have hot water, try turning the boiler off at the mains for a few seconds, before turning it back on again.
Could you have a frozen pipe? If it’s very cold outside, it’s not uncommon for a boiler’s condensate pipe to freeze. You can try to thaw it by pouring hot (but never boiling) water over it, or by a hot water bottle.