When something goes wrong with your Baxi boiler, it can have a huge impact on your household, leaving you and your family with no heating or hot water. Whilst some minor problems can be fixed easily, the majority will require an engineer to diagnose any issues and carry out boiler repairs. All boiler repairs should not be attempted by anyone other than a qualified heating engineer, but you can do some simple checks before picking up the phone and calling in a professional to help get your Baxi boiler back up and running again.
This guide highlights the most common Baxi boiler problems and the steps you need to take when you experience an issue.
1. Unusual gurgling or banging noises
Strange noises coming from your Baxi boiler may not be a serious issue and could be a sign that there is trapped air in the system. If your boiler is making loud banging noises, it might be trying to tell you that the burner is broken.
What to do next: Gurgling noises are less serious and can often be stopped by bleeding your radiators. But if the noises are loud and sound like banging, you could have a broken burner, which is something that can only be fixed by a qualified engineer. Try bleeding your radiators first and if the problem persists, contact a professional.
2. Dripping and leaking
Your Baxi boiler could be leaking for several reasons but the most likely causes are a faulty pump seal or broken pressure valve. It could be that the pressure is too high or the pump seal has come loose or become worn over time.
What to do next: A qualified engineer should be called out to find the cause of the leak and carry out the necessary boiler repairs. You may find that the engineer just needs to replace one of the internal components to stop the leak or they might have to change a few parts if the leak has caused others to rust.
3. Low boiler pressure
Low boiler pressure is a common fault on Baxi boilers, as well as pretty much all boiler brands. The fix could be as simple as re-pressuring the boiler or it might be that you have a faulty expansion vessel or a broken pressure relief valve.
What to do next: If your pressure gauge reads below 1 bar, check the boiler manual for the correct pressure level and re-pressurise the boiler (only if you’re happy to do this yourself). If you’d rather not re-pressurise the boiler or the pressure level is fine as it is, you’ll need to contact a trusted engineer to fix the problem.
4. Boiler won’t ignite
Some Baxi boiler models are prone to ignition problems, which usually causes the boiler to constantly lock out. This could be down to a faulty part but it could even be that you have an issue with the gas supply.
What to do next: First check to see if it’s an issue with the gas supply by turning on the other gas appliances in your house. If none of your gas appliances work, you’ll need to contact your gas supplier to report the issue. Should you find that your other gas appliances do work, you must get in touch with a Gas Safe registered engineer who will be able to thoroughly check the internal parts and repair or replace any damaged components.
5. No hot water
If you’re not getting any hot water from your taps or shower or you find that the boiler is only providing you with hot water when the heating is switched on, it could be a problem with the diverter valve or diaphragm washer.
What to do next: When it comes to inspecting, repairing or replacing parts, this must only be done by a qualified engineer. If the problem is just the diaphragm washer, your engineer may deem it more economical to replace the entire diverter valve.