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Boiler Breakdown
No heating or hot water? Learn what to check first, common causes of boiler breakdowns, repair costs and how to find a Gas Safe registered emergency heating engineer.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reviewed by: The TopTenTrades Editorial Team
Quick Answer
- 1.Check the boiler pressure gauge and any error codes
- 2.Check you have not run out of gas or prepayment credit
- 3.If you smell gas, leave the property and call 0800 111 999
- 4.Try resetting the boiler following the manufacturer instructions
- 5.Contact a Gas Safe registered emergency engineer
- Problem type
- Emergency heating
- Typical trade
- Gas Safe registered heating engineer
- Urgency
- Immediate, especially in winter
- Typical repair time
- 1–2 hours
- Typical cost
- £80–£400
- Risk if ignored
- No heating or hot water, frozen pipes, higher repair costs
What To Do
- 1.Check the pressure gauge — most boilers need pressure between 1 and 1.5 bar when the heating is off.
- 2.Look for an error code on the boiler display and note it down for the engineer.
- 3.Confirm you have gas supply and, on a prepayment meter, that you have credit.
- 4.Try a manufacturer-recommended reset — do not attempt to open or repair the boiler yourself.
- 5.If you smell gas at any point, leave the property immediately, do not use electrical switches, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
- 6.Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer for an emergency callout.
Signs You May Have This Problem
- •No heating or hot water
- •Boiler pressure reading is low or has dropped suddenly
- •Unusual banging, whistling or gurgling noises
- •The pilot light keeps going out
- •An error code showing on the boiler display
- •A smell of gas near the boiler
Common Causes
- •Low system pressure
- •A faulty thermostat or timer
- •Airlocks or a broken diaphragm
- •Ignition or pilot light failure
- •A frozen condensate pipe in cold weather
- •General wear from an ageing boiler
Boiler Breakdown: Typical Costs
| Repair | Typical Cost (UK) |
|---|---|
| Emergency callout | £80–£150 |
| Minor repair (e.g. reset, reignition) | £100–£200 |
| Part replacement (e.g. pump, valve) | £150–£400 |
| Full boiler replacement | £1,500–£3,500+ |
Costs depend on the fault, parts required, boiler make and model, and whether the callout is during standard hours or out of hours.
When Should You Call An Emergency Professional?
- check_circleYou can smell gas
- check_circleThe boiler is showing a lockout or fault error code
- check_circleResetting the boiler has not resolved the issue
- check_circleThere is no heating or hot water in cold weather
- check_circleYou notice black marks (soot) around the boiler
How To Prevent This
- •Book an annual boiler service, ideally before winter
- •Bleed radiators regularly to maintain even heating
- •Insulate the condensate pipe to reduce the risk of freezing
- •Keep the boiler pressure topped up to the manufacturer's recommended level
- •Address small faults early rather than waiting for a full breakdown
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Need help with a boiler breakdown?
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