Common Ferroli Boiler Problems and Repairs

Boiler brand, Ferroli, manufactures budget boilers that have been known to encounter all types of problems due to their build and unreliable components. You shouldn’t let this put you off purchasing a Ferroli boiler though as any boiler, regardless of brand and build quality, can run into trouble now and then. The thing to know is that some Ferroli boiler problems are more common than others and there are even some issues that can be solved without you needing to contact an engineer. But when it comes to the more serious Ferroli boiler problems and repairs, they will require the services of a Gas Safe registered engineer. 

Below is a list of the most common Ferroli boiler problems that your system may encounter and advice on what you need to do next. 

1. Water keeps leaking from the base of the boiler

A leaking Ferroli boiler is quite a serious issue that needs to be put right as quickly as possible as boiler leaks can lead to all sorts of serious problems, such as structural damage to your home. The likely culprits include a damaged seal or a faulty internal component. 

What to do next: Don’t be tempted to touch any part of your Ferroli boiler if it’s leaking water. You should switch off the boiler and call in a Gas Safe registered engineer who will be able to determine the cause of the leak and carry out the necessary repairs. 

2. Boiler pressure is too low

Low boiler pressure can be caused by a leak, a build-up of air in your radiators or a faulty pressure relief valve. Having said that, it could be that your Ferroli boiler is losing pressure simply because the heating hasn’t been switched on for such a long time. 

What to do next: As we mentioned above, a leak can lead to serious issues so you’ll need to check that no leaks are coming from the boiler or your radiators first. If you find a leak, call a Gas Safe registered engineer who can get to the bottom of the problem and stop the leak. But if you can’t spot a leak anywhere, you can try and re-pressurise the boiler if you feel confident to do this yourself or, if not, ask an engineer to re-pressurise it for you. If the pressure is still low after re-pressurising your Ferroli boiler, then you’ll need to contact a qualified engineer. 

3. Boiler keeps going into lock-out mode

Most boilers are designed to shut down or ‘lockout’ when a fault or safety risk occurs. If your Ferroli boiler keeps locking out, there might be an issue with the gas supply to your home or a problem with your boiler’s printed circuit board (PCB). 

What to do next: Switch on any other gas appliances in your home to see if you’re still receiving a gas supply. You’ll need to contact your gas supplier if you find that none of your gas appliances are working. If the gas supply to your house is normal, get in touch with a Gas Safe registered engineer to take a look at your boiler as you may have a problem with the boiler’s PCB, which is something you shouldn’t ever attempt to fix yourself. 

4. Radiators not getting hot

If your radiators have stopped getting hot when you switch on the heating or your radiators are only hot at the top, middle or bottom, there’s probably trapped air or a build-up of sludge in your radiators. 

What to do next: The trapped air or sludge can be removed by simply bleeding your radiators. Fortunately, this is something you can do without the help of an engineer. If you’ve never bleed your radiators before and you’re unsure how to, just follow the steps below:

• Step 1: Switch on your heating to warm up the radiators.
• Step 2: Check each radiator in the house to find the ones that aren’t heating up.
• Step 3: Switch off your central heating and wait for the radiators to cool down.
• Step 4: Grab a bowel, a cloth or a towel and a bleed key. If you don’t have a bleed key, you’ll need to take a trip to your nearest DIY shop.
• Step 5: Put some towels at the base of your radiators to catch any drips. Open the radiator bleed valve on one of the radiators using the bleed key and turn it anti-clockwise. Be careful not to open the valve fully, just halfway.
• Step 6: When the air begins to escape, you’ll hear a hissing sound and water will start to trickle out. Use the bowl to catch the water. Continue to do this until the hissing noise stops and all of the air is released from the radiator. 
• Step 7: Once the trapped air has been removed, you need to turn the bleed key clockwise to close the radiator bleed valve. 
• Step 8: Repeat the process on all of the radiators in your home that are not getting hot. 
• Step 9: After bleeding all of the radiators, you should re-pressurise your boiler as the system will have lost a little water. 

If you don’t want to bleed the radiators yourself or the problem persists after you’ve bled them all, you should call in a Gas Safe registered engineer.