Boiler repair in Yardley, B25 and B26
Yardley is older than most of the suburbs around it. Old Yardley, around St Edburgha’s Church, is a conservation area, and the Tudor Blakesley Hall stands a short walk away. Around that historic core are wide estates of inter-war and post-war semis and terraces. Many of those houses were heated for decades by a back boiler behind a gas fire, and some still are. If your heating or hot water has stopped, send an enquiry with your postcode and what is happening, and we arrange one of our local Gas Safe registered engineers who covers B25 and B26.
How does a back boiler system work?
A back boiler sits in the chimney opening behind a gas fire. It heats water that circulates to your radiators and to a hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard. Most are part of an open-vented system, fed by a cold water tank and a small expansion tank in the loft. The boiler itself usually lights from a standing pilot light: a small flame that burns all the time, proved by a thermocouple.
Which faults are typical?
Pilot light keeps going out. By far the most common. A worn thermocouple can no longer hold the gas valve open, so the pilot drops out. Draughts down the chimney and a dirty pilot jet are other causes. See pilot light keeps going out. Relighting is covered in the boiler’s user instructions; anything beyond that is gas work.
No hot water. On a back boiler system, hot water depends on the cylinder, its thermostat, a motorised valve or gravity circulation, and the timer. Any of these can fail; see no hot water.
Cold radiators and noisy pipes. Old open-vented systems collect sludge, and a sticking pump or a blocked feed can starve radiators. Our guide to cold radiators explains the difference between air and sludge.
Loft tank problems. If the small feed and expansion tank in the loft runs dry or overflows, the ball valve may be stuck. That affects the heating, and in a cold loft the tank and pipes need to be protected from frost.
When does it make sense to replace a back boiler?
A back boiler that is safe, serviced and working can carry on. Replacement starts to make sense when parts can no longer be found, faults become frequent, or the gas fire in front of it needs replacing too. A modern condensing boiler uses less gas, but it is a bigger job, as the flue, controls and often the cylinder change. The engineer will explain the options honestly and give a price for whichever route you choose.
What can you check yourself?
- Check the gas supply at another appliance, or that a prepayment meter has credit.
- Look at the pilot window, if your model has one, to see whether the pilot is lit.
- Check the timer and thermostats are calling for heat.
- Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in the room with the fire, if you do not already have one.
If you are unsure or a smell of fumes is present, stop and get an engineer.
What happens next?
Send the form with your Yardley postcode, the boiler type and model and the fault. We pass it to a local engineer who covers your area, who arranges a visit, finds the fault and gives a price before starting. All gas work is carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers; check their ID card on the Gas Safe Register when they arrive.
Which nearby areas do we cover?
We cover Acocks Green, Stechford, Hay Mills, South Yardley and Sheldon. The cost guide has typical UK prices, and boiler servicing explains the annual check.