How do you increase the boiler pressure?
Marie, Maintenance Manager at CPS Homes, talks us through some simple instructions that can help increase the boiler pressure if it's too low...
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Think about the most important things in a property that helps ensure it’s suitable for living.
Do you find it fairly easy to list the top 3 or 4 things?
Among them should most certainly be a correctly functioning boiler - and this should be quite a few places higher than the heated indoor swimming pool you were considering!
The boiler is critical to comfortable living, especially during the cold winter months, so when something is wrong, it can make a homeowner wince as they tend to be a costly repair or replacement job.
Fortunately, not all boiler problems are costly or difficult to fix. Low pressure typically being one of them.
You’ve likely heard the term “low boiler pressure” being bandied about in the past, but what exactly does it mean to have low pressure and how can it be fixed?
If you are experiencing problems such as a loss of heating and hot water supply, it could very well be down to the property having a low boiler pressure.
Read: Interior winter maintenance tips for homeowners and landlords
What does it mean when you have low boiler pressure?
The boiler is responsible for heating the water that flows through the pipes and radiators of our property (unless our heating runs off electric, of course). For this to work efficiently the pressure in the boiler system needs to be at an adequate and stable level.
Should the water pressure in the boiler drop lower than its optimal level, it won’t be able to sufficiently head the cold water that’s running through the pipes and radiators. This results in a loss of heating and hot water.
Just so you know - it’s also possible for the boiler pressure to be too high. If the pressure is too high, there can be an increased risk of leaks developing in the system. This is why it’s important to regularly check the boiler pressure to ensure it remains within its optimal levels.
What is the optimal boiler pressure level?
There are many different types of boilers available, so the optimal boiler pressure level varies from one boiler to the next.
Many modern boilers come with a needle indicator on the front that displays the current pressure level. There is often a section (usually green) where the needle should sit within to operate at its optimal level, but this may not necessarily be the case for your particular boiler.
If you’re unsure, refer to the manufacturers handbook or manual to locate the boiler pressure indicator.
The handbook or manual will also provide you with pressure information and accurate measurement details for your boiler.
Read: Get ahead of winter maintenance issues
Increasing the boiler pressure when it’s too low
If the boiler pressure is below 1.5 on the pressure gauge, then it’s too low and needs to be repressurised. The same applies if it’s above 2.75, in which case it would be too high.
To repressurise the boiler, you simply….
- Locate the boiler manual and read through the pages related to the pressure
- Turn the boiler off and wait for the system to cool down - this could take an hour or more
- Check each end of the filling loop to ensure they are securely attached (some boilers use a key)
- Open both valves so that cold water can flow into the system (you should be able to hear it)
- Wait for the pressure gauge to reach the 1.5 bar
- Close the valves tightly, one after the other
- Turn the boiler back on (you may need to also press the reset button)
- Carefully undo both ends of the filling loop and catch any water spillage
- Store the filling loop (or key) in a safe place
See our How To guides for more home maintenance tips
Here at CPS Homes, we’ve been helping people buy, sell, rent and let properties across Cardiff for over two decades. Our knowledge of the city is second to none, so to find our more about how our expertise and friendly yet professional approach can help you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team by calling 02920 668585, e-mailing enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk or by dropping into one of our three Cardiff branches for a face-to-face chat.
The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.
