The cold winter won’t leave us in peace for at least another three months, even if some anomalous sunny days are not lacking in some Italian regions and in particular in the capital. What to do if, in the middle of a winter evening, the boiler in the house shuts down and leaves us without hot water?
Modern boilers have a reset button on the display button. Once the underlying problem has been resolved, simply pressing and holding the button will reset the boiler after a lockout. For older boilers (or boilers that don’t have a reset button on the front of the boiler) you should refer to the manual to determine the recovery procedure.
What’s happening if your boiler does not reset after a block, even after solving the error code problem? Unfortunately, the computing power of a boiler is not like that of a PC or laptop. It will try to determine the most relevant error code. But that doesn’t mean it’s correct or that it’s the only flaw of the system.
So, you’ll need to run a few checks to find other potential faults before resetting again. And this naturally belongs to a professional in the sector. Don’t worry, the blockage could be temporary and will resolve itself after a simple reset. But if this does not happen, adequate investigations are needed.
Your boiler goes into lockout: it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an alarm
- Check if the pump works. Can you feel small vibrations and buzzing from the pump? This signals that the engine is running. If it is, is it too hot to touch? A hot pump suggests seized internal parts. A gentle touch can sometimes set them free.
- Adjust the boiler pressure. The boiler pressure should be 1.3-1.5 bar. Otherwise, this could cause a crash.
- Determine if the PCB is working. The PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is the heart of a boiler. Does the display panel show any lights or codes or is it completely blank? A boiler will fail immediately without a functioning PCB, as this unit facilitates communication between all electrical components in the boiler.
- Check the power supply. Check the condition of the fuse. If the fuse has not blown, try plugging the boiler elsewhere. And, of course, check if your property’s electricity is tripped.
- Monitor the heat flow. There is a flow and return water pipe on each boiler. One should be piping hot, the other slightly cooler. The flow rate is the hot water leaving the system; it travels around and returns via the return. Naturally, the water will lose some heat as it travels around the radiators and pipes; but it shouldn’t be exactly cold. If the flow is hot, but the return is cold, this indicates a blockage. Most likely, it is limescale and heating sludge that must be removed with an electric rinse.
Is your old boiler still blocking despite repairs? If so, it could be time to consider investing money in replacing your old boiler, purchasing a decidedly more modern one, also equipped with a energy saving such as those with heat pumps.
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