Why is my boiler making a noise?
If your boiler is making a strange noise, it could be that it needs to be repaired. If it’s an older model, you may even need to get a new boiler.
In this guide, we'll take a look at each of these noises and what they could mean.
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My boiler is making a banging noise
If your boiler is making a strange banging noise you could have a build-up of sludge or limescale in your boiler’s heat exchange – causing a restriction of water which begins to overheat & steam.
Kettling causes your system to work harder and often shortens the lifespan of a boiler. This isn’t a major issue, but we would recommend getting a Gas Safe engineer to flush out the system, which will clear out the build-up of sludge & limescale and will aid in restoring the boiler efficiency.
Estimated flush cost of £300+ depending on how many radiators you have in the home.
My boiler is making a gurgling noise
Gurgling noises can be air trapped in the system or a blockage at the bottom of the boiler. The majority of the time gurgling noises are a tell-tale sign that your condensate pipe is frozen.
Your condensate pipe (or wastewater pipe) will need to be thawed to fix the issue – this an incredibly easy fix. Here's our guide on how to safely thaw a frozen pipe.
After you’ve completed our guide, all should be working as normal.
My boiler is making a whistling noise
Whistling noises can be caused by kettling, loss of water or air is trapped within your system. If it is trapped air, you can easily fix this by bleeding your radiators.
If you don’t feel comfortable bleeding your radiator, you should call a Gas Safe engineer to carry out a repair. When they bleed your radiators, they’ll also find out what caused air to become trapped in the boiler and perform the appropriate repairs.
There will be a call out charge of at least £50 - £60 per hour.
My boiler is vibrating
The term we use to describe a vibrating noise from your boiler is 'Kettling' which is caused by a build-up of sludge and other debris that blocks water passages to the primary heat exchanger within your boiler.
As hot water is passed to the heat exchanger the sludge stops the flow of water which begins to violently boil, resulting in the noise you hear and vibration you can feel.
We recommend you book a boiler service, so an engineer can carry out a thorough diagnosis and help maintain your boiler.
My boiler is buzzing and whining
If you can hear a buzzing or whining noise from within your boiler, that is often a worn pump bearing, a defective burner or vibrating fans. All of which will need a skilled Gas Safe Registered engineer to diagnose and repair the issue.
This is a serious problem and your boiler should be booked in for a repair as soon as possible.
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Other fixes for a noisy boiler
Water pressure
Being able to fix your boiler pressure is extremely useful in helping to diagnose any heating problems. If your water pressure is too low it won’t cause any damage, but it will affect the efficiency & effectiveness of your boiler – so, you’ll likely be paying more in energy bills.
The standard operating pressure is usually 1 – 2 bars of pressure. Anything above or below that will need to be repressured.
Water flow
If you have poor water flow, the water could get stuck in the boilers heat exchanger. So, when the water starts to boil, steam & expand the boiler will make a noise like a boiling kettle, and have a slight whistle. This is very common in older boilers or central heating systems.
Incorrectly set thermostat
If your thermostat is set too high it could cause a boiler to become very noisy. Try lowering the temperature on your thermostat, so your boiler isn't constantly running too high and working too hard. This should help your boiler stay quiet.
To have even greater control over your heating it may be worth investing in a Smart Thermostat, which allows you to connect to your central heating system remotely via your mobile.
Limescale
A build-up of limescale will cause steam bubbles to be produced, which will make a loud noise like a kettle boiling. Limescale has a significant impact on the lifespan & energy efficiency of a central heating system.
To fix the issue we'd recommend getting a gas safe engineer to administer a chemical flush or descaler to clean up the pipework and get rid of the build-up of limescale within the system.
To ensure your boiler stays in a good working order, please book your boiler & central heating service every year. If any issues do appear, then you need to book a boiler repair in as soon as possible to prevent any serious damage occurring within your boiler. It's always better, and more affordable, to be safe than sorry.