Boiler repair in Sheldon, B26
Sheldon sits on Birmingham’s eastern edge, beside the airport and Sheldon Country Park, along the busy Coventry Road. Most of its homes are post-war semis, terraces and bungalows. When the boiler fails in winter, who is at home matters. For older people, those with health conditions and families with very young children, a cold home is a health risk, not just a nuisance. If your heating has stopped, send an enquiry with your postcode and tell us who is in the home, and we arrange one of our local Gas Safe registered engineers who covers B26.
How do you stay warm while you wait?
While you wait for the engineer, a few simple steps help.
- Heat one room. Close the door and keep everyone in it. A plug-in electric heater, used safely and away from furniture and curtains, is a good stopgap.
- Layer up. Several thin layers, a hat and warm socks hold heat better than one thick jumper.
- Hot drinks and hot meals help keep body temperature up.
- Use hot water bottles carefully, filled with hot but not boiling water, or a microwave heat pack.
- Check on neighbours who live alone.
Never use a gas cooker or oven to heat a room, and never bring outdoor heaters or barbecues indoors.
What is the Priority Services Register?
The Priority Services Register is a free scheme run by energy suppliers and network operators for people who need extra help, including older people, disabled people and those with medical conditions. If you are on it, you can get advance warning of planned power cuts and extra support if your gas or power supply is interrupted. Contact your energy supplier to join. It does not cover boiler repairs, but it is worth having in place before winter.
What can you check safely first?
- Check the controls are on and asking for heat, and the timer shows the right time.
- Check the pressure gauge. Low pressure is a very common reason for a boiler to stop. On a Vaillant it shows as F22; our guide explains how to top up safely.
- In freezing weather, check the condensate pipe outside. Thaw it with warm, never boiling, water. See frozen condensate pipe.
- Reset once. If the boiler still will not run, stop.
Our guide to a boiler that won’t fire up goes through these in more detail, and no hot water covers the taps.
Boilers in bungalows
Bungalows often have the boiler in the kitchen, a utility cupboard or, sometimes, the loft. A loft boiler needs safe access with a fixed ladder, lighting and boarding so the engineer can work on it. If your boiler is in the loft, mention it in your enquiry.
Carbon monoxide safety
Every home with a gas boiler should have a working carbon monoxide alarm. If it sounds, or you feel dizzy, sick or drowsy indoors, open windows, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999.
What happens after an enquiry?
Send your Sheldon postcode, the boiler make and model, what is happening and who is at home. We pass it to a local engineer who covers B26, who arranges a visit, diagnoses the fault and gives a price before any work starts. All gas work is carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers; check the engineer’s ID card on the Gas Safe Register when they arrive.
Which nearby areas do we cover?
We cover Yardley, Acocks Green, Marston Green, Elmdon and Solihull. See boiler servicing and the cost guide for more.