A British gas engineer has explained what the sounds from your boiler mean (Image: Getty)
Wintry weather has officially arrived with the beginning of December and up and down the country are busy keeping households warm.
Many systems are back on in full swing, but your boiler may be making sounds you’re not sure how to interpret.
Whether it’s a loud banging, a whistling hum, or even a steady gurgling noise, knowing what these sounds signify can help prevent a simple annoyance from becoming a costly repair.
It’s not out of the ordinary for boilers to make noises, but it’s tricky to decipher what they mean and how serious the problem could be for anyone who isn’t an expert.
Fortunately, Joanna Flowers, a service and repair engineer with , is on hand to demystify the sounds coming from your boiler, how to troubleshoot problems, and when it’s time to call in an expert.
She said: “While it can be a little worrying to hear your boiler making a noise, don’t panic.
“Boilers make sounds, even when they’re operating normally. If you’re hearing a specific sound – banging, vibrating, whistling or any other noise – this could tell you what the issue is.”
Read on for British Gas’ sound guide to help figure out what’s wrong.
Some sounds from boilers are normal, but there are a few you shouldn’t ignore (Image: Getty)
What should I do when my boiler is making noise?
While it can be a little concerning, don’t panic. Boilers make sounds, even when they’re switched on and being used.
If you’re hearing a specific sound – banging, vibrating, whistling or any other noise – this may be a clue to what is going on inside your boiler.
And, what about if it sounds a little more concerning? Joanna recommends always booking a gas safe engineer if you are not sure what’s wrong.
“If you’re hearing something out of the blue or it gets extremely loud, then you’ll want to check that everything’s working properly. So, it’s a good idea to book either one-off boiler repairs or service and maintenance from a British Gas engineer.”
“It’s also important to remember that boilers will have automatic switches and safety mechanisms that turn the boiler off before it becomes dangerous. If this happens, get in a professional engineer to safely get your boiler working again.”
7 noises from your boiler to pay attention to
Vibrating Sounds
This could be an easy fix that you can do yourself. Maybe there are some loose brackets that are holding your boiler in place and tightening them might stop the sound.
However, if the sound continues, you don’t want a vibrating boiler on your wall, which could be potentially dangerous. So get an engineer in to take a look, diagnose the fault and put your mind at ease.
DON’T MISS [EXPERT]
If in doubt, call in an engineer (Image: Getty)
Gurgling sounds
Occasionally your boiler will make this type of sound. But when that gurgle becomes louder it could mean there’s more air trapped in the system. If that’s the case, then it’s time to look at your radiators.
Water and liquid sounds
Since your boiler pumps a lot of water through the pipes in your house, hearing water and liquid sounds coming from the unit can be normal.
Banging Sounds
Nobody wants to hear an appliance go bang, let alone a boiler. There could be an issue with the heat exchanger, some sludge inside the boiler or perhaps the thermostat isn’t working properly.
It could also be because of overheating, which causes the pipes to make the sound when you turn on the hot water.
Airplane sounds
If you’ve noticed that your boiler is making the sound of an airplane taking off, there are several things that could be causing it. But the most common reason is a faulty pump.
Loud sounds
If you’re hearing something out of the blue or extremely loud, then it may be time to double-check that everything’s working okay.
It’s important to remember that boilers will have automatic switches and safety mechanisms that turn the boiler off before it is dangerous. If this happens, call in a professional engineer to safely get your boiler working again.