Heating Advice
Boiler Not Working, No Hot Water or Radiator Not Heating? What to Check First
A heating fault can feel urgent, especially when there is no hot water or the radiators stay cold. This guide gives quick, safe checks you can make before booking local heating support or speaking to a local plumber.
Whole Article at a Glance
Short on time? These are the most common checks before arranging professional heating help.
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Boiler Not Firing
Check power, pressure, thermostat settings and error codes first.
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No Hot Water
Look at boiler mode, timer settings and whether heating still works.
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Cold Radiators
Cold spots may point to trapped air, sludge, valve faults or balancing issues.
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Unsafe Signs
Smell gas, leaks, burning smells or repeated lockouts need urgent help.
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Boiler Not Working: First Checks
If your boiler is not working, start with simple visible checks. Confirm the boiler has power, the display is on, the programmer is not off, and the thermostat is set higher than the room temperature.
If the boiler shows a fault code, note it down before resetting anything. One reset may clear a temporary lockout, but repeated resets can hide a real problem.
Check power and display
Check timer settings
Note any fault code
Avoid repeated resets
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No Hot Water: What It Usually Means
No hot water can come from a boiler fault, programmer issue, diverter valve problem, cylinder fault, thermostat setting or pressure issue. The key question is whether the heating still works.
If the radiators heat up but taps stay cold, the issue may be linked to hot water controls or internal boiler components. If both heating and hot water fail, the fault may be wider.
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Radiator Not Heating Properly
A radiator that stays cold at the top may have trapped air. A radiator cold at the bottom can point to sludge or poor circulation. One cold radiator may be a valve or balancing issue, while several cold radiators may suggest a wider heating problem.
If radiators heat unevenly even after simple checks, book Professional Local Heating Services before the system becomes less efficient or stops working fully.
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Pressure, Thermostats and Heating Controls
Low boiler pressure can stop heating and hot water. High pressure, fast pressure drops or pressure that keeps changing may suggest leaks, vessel problems, valve issues or system faults.
Thermostats, smart controls and programmers can also cause confusion. If the boiler works manually but not on schedule, the issue may be control-related rather than a boiler breakdown.
Pressure too low
Timer set incorrectly
Thermostat not calling for heat
Smart control connection issue
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When DIY Checks Should Stop
You can check settings, visible pressure and whether radiators are heating, but do not remove boiler covers, work on gas parts or attempt internal repairs. Heating systems combine water, pressure, electrics and gas safety.
Stop and call a professional if there is a gas smell, water near electrics, a burning smell, repeated boiler lockouts, visible leaks, unusual noises or no heating during cold weather.
Useful Local Heating Support
For reliable diagnosis, repairs and maintenance, Partridge Plumbing & Heating can help with boilers, radiators, hot water faults, heating controls, pipework and planned servicing.
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When Should You Book Heating Support?
Book help if the boiler will not fire, hot water keeps failing, radiators stay cold, the pressure drops repeatedly, the system makes loud noises or the problem returns after a reset.
Partridge Plumbing & Heating provides Professional Heating Services for local homes, landlords and businesses across Carshalton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Richmond and Twickenham.
Need a Heating Problem Checked?
Send photos, describe the issue, share any boiler fault code or request a quote. The team can help with boilers, hot water faults, cold radiators, pressure issues and heating controls.