Why Does My Boiler Keep Turning Itself Off?

22 November 2024

Top Causes & Easy Fixes

It can be very frustrating when your boiler keeps turning off, especially during the winter and colder months. Even if there is no obvious breakdown it is essential to rectify the boiler fault. Any boiler repairs on boilers must be carried out by fully Gas Safe registered heating engineers. You should call out a heating engineer to find out why your boiler keeps turning off, or identify the cause yourself by reading on. We can advise you on some of the best steps to take and whether a replacement boiler is necessary.

A Quick Note on Boiler Preheat Functions

Some boilers, especially combi boilers, have a preheat function on them where they are designed to turn off. What this feature does is it heats the plated heat exchanger periodically, which allows for heating and hot water to be readily available on demand. However, if your boiler keeps turning off shortly after it has fired up, then this is most likely to be a boiler fault.

Common Reasons Your Boiler Keeps Turning Off

After ruling out the preheat function on the boiler installation, one of the following reasons could be the cause of the boilers behaviour.

Fuel Supply Interruption

A common issue for your boiler shutting down can be fuel supply interruption, especially if it is a pre-paid meter at the property. Checking your credit first can save you on costly boiler repairs. If the meter does have sufficient credit, the interruption may require a Gas Safe registered heating engineer to attend to investigate the issue.

Faulty Thermostat

If your thermostat is faulty this can prevent your boiler installation from accurately detecting the correct central heating temperature. This will lead to the boiler shutting off to make sure it does not overheat. If your thermostat is faulty or ageing, it may be worth replacing it with a smart thermostat which could help you to reduce your energy bill. Why Is My Boiler Not Responding To My Thermostat?

Low Water Pressure

Your boiler installation needs to be set to a specific pressure range for the boiler to operate correctly. Generally 1.5 bar is the ideal pressure. Your pressure can drop over time, especially if there are any leaks on the central heating system. If the boiler pressure does drop too low, then the central heating system will stop working. Why Is My Boiler Losing Pressure?

Temperature Control Valve (TCV) Issues

When the temperature control valve closes, this can restrict water flow and in turn the boiler keeps turning off. Double check these valves on the boiler. If they are open you may need to contact a fully Gas Safe registered heating engineer to investigate.

Frozen Boiler Condensate Pipe

If your condensate pipe takes a route externally, during the harsh cold weather the condensate pipe can block. This will cause the boiler to shut down. Contact a Gas Safe registered heating engineer to examine your condensate pipe diameter and possibly upgrade the size, lag the pipe where necessary or explore how to in our guide. How To Thaw A Frozen Condensate Pipe And Prevent It From Freezing.

Boiler Short Cycling

Short cycling is a term used to describe when the boiler rapidly meets the central heating demands. This can cause increased heating costs, restrict piping, blocked pipes or sludged up heat exchangers. Power flushing out your system can help with this issue. The Benefits Of A Central Heating Powerflush.

Water Pump Malfunction

If you have a malfunctioning water pump, this is a common issue that can cause your boiler installation to overheat and the boiler keeps turning off. Contact a fully Gas Safe registered heating engineer to replace your pump to make the central heating system run efficiently.

Heat Exchanger Problems

With an older boiler, especially over 10 years old, a faulty heat exchanger on a boiler could be the main issue for boiler breakdowns. Replacing your heat exchanger can be very expensive. Changing to a new boiler may be a better, more cost effective solution with new boiler warranty from a Worcester Bosch accredited installer.

Preventing Boiler Issues

In the West Midlands boilers are essential, during the winter months especially. Having an annual boiler service and yearly landlord checks by fully Gas Safe registered heating engineers is very important in order to prevent boiler installation issues. This can help any minor breakdown issues stop before they occur, and prevent boiler keeps turning off from becoming major.

Still Having Trouble?

If you are unsure or unable to find out why your boiler keeps turning off you can contact us at AWP Boiler Installations if you are in the areas we cover across Solihull, Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands. Our Gas Safe registered central heating team are happy to help!

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