As winter approaches, Brits' attention turns to keeping warm, so if your boiler breaks down this can be a serious issue.
Many parts of the country are about to be struck by more than a week of bad weather as Storm Barra hits from today .
Here are five of the main reasons you can have boiler trouble, as well as some quick fixes to help small problems.
But make sure you get a registered boiler engineer to fix any major issues, as getting something wrong can be dangerous or expensive.
Problem: You boiler suddenly turns off
This could be because it has low pressure. This can lead to the entire heating system shutting down as a security feature.
Solution: Adjust filling loop on your boiler
A quick fix is to try adjusting the filling loop, a pipe which links your central heating to the mains water supply.
It is normally located underneath the sink, or near the boiler in a cupboard.
To try the fix, turn off the boiler and let it cool down. Check both ends of the filling loop are attached firmly and locate the pressure gauge.
Then open the valves on the loop to let cold water into the heating system.
Once the pressure gauge reaches 1.5 bar, close the valves and switch the boiler on again.
If that doesn't fix the problem, call out an engineer.
Problem: Boiler is making loud noises
This could be because there is too much air in the system.
If your boiler is making odd noises, such as loud vibrations, banging or whistling, check if the water pressure is weak or your pump has failed.
Solution: Tweak settings and bleed radiators
You might be able to fix the problem yourself by bleeding your radiators or checking the instruction manual for your boiler to see if a quick fix is listed.
Otherwise, call out an engineer, especially if you notice soot in or around the boiler, or the boiler's pilot light changes colour.
Problem: The th ermostat seems to stop working
If you turn up the thermostat but don't notice your home getting warmer, it is easy to assume the thermostat is broken.
Solution: Check it, then replace it
The first thing to do is see if the thermostat has been accidentally knocked down to a lower temperature setting.
If it still seems to not work, it is time to call a professional.
Problem: Boiler leaks
A leaking boiler is never a good thing.
It can mean several things, such as low pressure, a broken part or simply that it's old.
Solution: Contact an engineer
There is no quick fix for this one, you should simply call an engineer.
They can work out exactly what is wrong then suggest how to sort it out.
Problem: Pipes are frozen
When temperatures drop below zero, pipes can freeze, and that includes the one draining unneeded water from your boiler - the condensate pipe.
If this does freeze it can mean your boiler no longer working.
Solution: Thaw it out
Putting insulation around the condensate pipe can help stop it freezing.
But if it has frozen already, you can try thawing it by pouring warm water over it - there are several how-to videos on YouTube and other platforms.
If you are not happy doing that yourself, a professional can help.
