Your boiler's packed up. Before you panic and call an engineer, try this.

It’s a sickening feeling, isn’t it?

You turn the dial… and nothing. No comforting rumble. No heat. Just a cold silence.

Especially when it’s freezing outside. Your first thought is to call someone—and probably get charged a small fortune for the privilege.

But what if I told you the fix could be absurdly simple? And free?

Before you pick up the phone, spend five minutes with me. Run through these 12 checks. One of them is almost certainly your problem.

1. Is everything else dead? Seriously. Check a light. A socket. Your gas hob. If they’re out, it’s a power cut, not your boiler. Simple.

2. Been fiddling in the fuse box? Go look. See a switch that’s flipped to ‘OFF’? Flick it back on. It costs nothing to try.

3. This is embarrassing, but… got credit? If you’re on a pre-pay meter, we’ve all been there. It’s the easiest fix in the world.

4. Check the pressure gauge. Look at it. Does it read around 1 to 1.5 bar? If it’s lower, that’s your answer. Top it up using the filling loop (your manual shows you how). Then reset the boiler. Often, it’s that simple.

5. Is your thermostat actually on? And turned up past 18°C? Crank it up to 22°C for a minute. See if it kicks in. You’d be amazed how often a brushed dial is the criminal.

6. Did the clocks change? Or the power blink? Your timer programme is a fragile thing. Check it’s set to come on now. Not next Tuesday at 3 am.

7. Find the two dials on your boiler. One’s for hot water, one’s for heating. Is the heating one turned up? I mean, properly up? Turn it. Now try.

8. Got a tank in the loft? (An open-vented system). If you’re brave enough to look, check the ball valve isn’t stuck. Gently nudge it. If it’s jammed, that might be your culprit.

9. Is it bitterly cold? Your pipes might be frozen. Find the culprit (often an outdoor pipe) and gently thaw it with warm water—NOT boiling. A hot water bottle works wonders.

10. Can you see a pilot light? If it’s out, your boiler’s instructions will tell you how to relight it. If it won’t stay lit, then you call someone. Don’t play with gas.

11. The universal fix: reset it. There’s always a reset button. Find it. Press it. It’s like magic for modern appliances.

12. And if all else fails… switch it off and on again. I’m not joking. The power switch near the boiler. Off for 60 seconds. Then on. It fixes more than you think.

Tried it all and still sitting in your coat?

Now you call Hub and get an honest, experienced engineer to pop over. A proper Gas Safe registered one. Don’t risk it with a cowboy.

And a final word of sense…

If you’re using an electric heater to stay warm, please be careful. Keep it a metre away from curtains, furniture, anything flammable. Close the door. Trap the heat. A rolled-up towel at the door is better than nothing.

Look after your boiler and it will look after you. An annual service by a proper engineer is cheap insurance against a freezing morning.

Now go and get warm.

FreqUently Asked Questions

• How do I know if it's a power issue or the boiler itself?

  First, check other appliances: a light switch, socket, or gas hob. If they’re also dead, it’s likely a power cut. If it’s just the boiler, inspect your fuse box—has a switch flipped to ‘OFF’? Flick it back on. You might just save yourself a call-out.

• My boiler pressure is low—what should the gauge read and how do I fix it?

  Your pressure gauge should read between 1 and 1.5 bar. If it's lower, that's likely the problem. Use your filling loop (refer to your manual) to top it up, then hit the reset button on your boiler. It’s a common and often easy fix.

• The heating’s off, but the hot water still works. What gives?

  Check your thermostat—is it on and turned past 18°C? Try cranking it up to 22°C briefly. Also, check the heating dial on your boiler—it may be turned too low. Lastly, inspect your timer; power blinks or daylight savings changes can mess up the settings.

• Could frozen pipes be stopping my boiler from working in cold weather?

  Yes, especially if you’ve got an outdoor condensate pipe. If it's frozen, your boiler may lock out. Gently thaw the pipe with warm water or a hot water bottle—never use boiling water. Then reset the boiler. Problem solved (usually).

• I’ve tried everything and the boiler still won’t fire up. What now?

  If you've done all 12 basic checks—power, pressure, thermostat, reset, and so on—and still no luck, it’s time to call a Gas Safe registered engineer. Avoid DIY with gas-related issues. Safety first.