Common Potterton Boiler Problems and Repairs

Unexpected boiler issues can throw your household into complete chaos, especially when your boiler lets you down during the cold months of the year. Even if you do take good care of your Potterton boiler, you could still experience problems with your system and end up with no heating or hot water for a while. Some Potterton boiler problems are easy to diagnose and simple to sort without the need to call in a professional. However, the majority of boiler issues will require an experienced engineer, which means you may need to spend some of your hard-earned cash on boiler repairs.

If you’re experiencing a fault with your Potterton boiler, this guide covers the most common Potterton boiler problems and explains how to tackle them.

1. Low boiler pressure

Reasons for loss of boiler pressure include a faulty pressure relief valve or a leak within your system. Like all boiler brands, Potterton boilers can also lose pressure as a result of a leak on one of your radiators.

What to do next: If the pressure has dropped below 1 bar, you can try and re-pressurise your Potterton boiler. Your boiler manual should include instructions on how to do this. But if you notice a visible leak coming from the boiler or a radiator, you should seek assistance from a qualified heating engineer.

2. Noisy boiler fan

Loud noises coming from your boiler’s fan could be trying to tell you that there’s an issue with the bearings on the fan. The fan is an important component that’s responsible for pushing dangerous gases out of your boiler, so any issues with the fan should be dealt with right away.

What to do next: As the boiler’s casing will need to be removed to get to the fan (which is something only a qualified professional is allowed to do), you’ll have no choice but to call in a Gas Safe registered engineer.

3. Boiler switches itself off

This could be down to a frozen condensate pipe, a faulty thermostat, low boiler pressure or a gas supply issue. Having said that, it could be that the pump is damaged.

What to do next: First check the thermostat, then take a look at the pressure gauge on the boiler to see if it needs re-pressurising. If they’re both fine, find out if there’s a problem with the gas supply by making sure your other gas appliances are working as they should. You can also look at the condensate pipe to see if it’s frozen and, if it is, apply warm (not boiling) water to the pipe to defrost it. If none of these simple fixes work or there is no issue with any of the things mentioned, then it’s time to contact a heating engineer.

4. No hot water coming from taps

Sometimes you Potterton boiler may supply heating but no hot water. There could be a number of reasons for this, including a faulty thermostat, damaged airlocks or valve failure.

What to do next: Check the thermostat to see if the temperature is set correctly. When set too low, your Potterton boiler won’t be able to release any hot water. You can also check to see if the pilot light is burning blue. If it isn’t blue, the pilot light will need to be re-lit, which is something you can try and do yourself or get an engineer to do for you. If the thermostat and pilot light are fine, a qualified engineer will need to take a look at your boiler and its components.

5. Water is leaking from the boiler

Leaks or drips of water coming from your Potterton boiler is a sign that you either have broken seals, a loose connection, a faulty component, high water pressure issues or cracks in the body of the boiler.

What to do next: This is something that should be fixed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. No matter how minor or serious the leak, you will need a qualified engineer to open up the boiler to identify the cause and fix the issue.

6. Radiators only partially heating up or not at all

If your radiators won’t heat up completely or won’t heat up at all it could be because there is a build-up of air in the system, which results in a restricted flow of water. Radiators that fail to heat up can also be a sign that the problem is more serious, such as a build-up of sludge in the system or a broken boiler part.

What to do next: To remove trapped air in your radiators, you can bleed them using a bleed key. If you don’t already have a bleed key, you should be able to find one at your local DIY store. Before you start, make sure your heating is switched off and grab a towel and a bowl to catch any water that drips from your radiators. To bleed your radiators, turn the radiator bleed valve using the bleed key until air hisses and water runs out of the radiator you’re working on. When the hissing stops, turn the bleed key the other way to close the bleed valve and then repeat the process on all of your radiators. Once done, you will need to re-pressurise your Potterton boiler. If the problem persists after bleeding all of your radiators, get in touch with a trained engineer.