When your heating system failure, a sudden loss of heat or hot water in your home. Also known as central heating breakdown, it’s one of the most urgent home issues you can face—especially in winter. It’s not just about comfort. A failing heating system can mean no hot showers, frozen pipes, or even safety risks if your boiler is leaking gas or overheating.
Most heating system failures, involve either the boiler or the water heater. Also known as central heating breakdown, it’s one of the most urgent home issues you can face—especially in winter. It’s not just about comfort. A failing heating system can mean no hot showers, frozen pipes, or even safety risks if your boiler is leaking gas or overheating.
It’s not always the boiler. Sometimes it’s a water heater, the appliance that heats and stores hot water for taps and showers. Also known as hot water tank, it’s the most common source of sudden no-hot-water emergencies. Rusty water, strange banging noises, or leaks under the unit are clear red flags. Other times, the issue is with the boiler, the main unit that heats water for radiators and sometimes domestic hot water. Also known as central heating boiler, it’s the heart of most UK homes’ heating systems. If your boiler won’t ignite, makes odd sounds, or shows error codes, it’s not just broken—it’s telling you something’s wrong inside.
Most people assume they need an electrician, but heating system failures usually require a heating engineer, a certified professional trained to diagnose and fix boilers, water heaters, and related systems. Also known as gas safe engineer, they’re the only ones legally allowed to work on gas appliances in the UK. An electrician can fix a faulty thermostat wire, but they can’t fix a broken heat exchanger, a blocked pump, or a gas valve leak. Calling the wrong person wastes time and money.
Age matters. A boiler over 10 years old is more likely to fail. Water heaters typically last 8–12 years. If yours is hitting that mark and you’re fixing it every few months, replacement might save you more than repair. But don’t panic yet. Many failures are simple: a tripped reset button, a faulty thermostat, or a blocked pressure valve. These are quick fixes—if you know what to check.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real, practical guides from people who’ve been there. You’ll learn how to spot the early signs of a failing water heater before it floods your basement. You’ll see what actually goes wrong inside a boiler that won’t light. You’ll get step-by-step checks you can do yourself before calling a pro. And you’ll find out when it’s smarter to replace than repair—no fluff, no sales pitch.
A broken boiler usually means no hot water because the same system heats your home and your taps. Learn why this happens, when there are exceptions, and what to do next to stay safe and warm.
