Find out how to solve boiler lockouts caused by pressure problems

As we have seen above, there are different reasons why a boiler goes into lockout. A boiler goes into lockout when there is something preventing it from functioning properly. This activates a safety system, which locks the appliance to prevent more serious damage.

One of the reasons for lockout is boiler pressure. Checking the boiler pressure on a regular basis is a good routine maintenance practice, so that you do not risk causing damage to the system or unwanted blockages. In more traditional boilers, the pressure is checked on the pressure gauge, while in more modern boilers it is checked on a display that indicates the bar value numerically.  

If the boiler goes into lockout due to pressure problems, we can try to intervene on our own by checking the pressure gauge. The pressure should be at a level between a minimum of 1.2 bar and a maximum of 1.5 bar, trying not to go lower or higher than these two levels.

Let’s take a closer look at how to intervene in the event of a boiler lockout due to pressure problems so as to understand how to solve the problem yourself or with the help of a specialist service engineer.

Boiler lockout due to low pressure

Should the pressure fall below 1.5 bar, the boiler will go into lockout because the pressure is not sufficient to guarantee proper operation. In order to raise the pressure to the desired level, it is necessary to turn the knob manually, always remembering not to exceed 2 bar.

If the pressure still does not improve after this and does not return to its standard level, the defect could be more serious and possibly internal to the system. In this case, it is a good idea to call in a specialist service engineer as the loss of pressure could be due to water leaks, the presence of limescale, or to wear on the various parts of the boiler.

Boiler lockout due to high pressure

If the boiler pressure is too high, i.e. above 2 bar, action must be taken. This can be done manually by bleeding pressure from the system through the drain cock, or in the case of boilers without this knob, using the radiator vent valves. In fact, the formation of air bubbles inside radiators can cause high boiler pressure.

In other cases, if the pressure were to rise above 2.5/3 bar, it could become dangerous, in which case the safety valve would intervene. In this case, too, it is necessary to rely on a specialist service engineer.

Find out how to solve boiler lockouts caused by pressure problems.

As we have seen, in some cases, the boiler may have pressure problems that can be solved by our own manual intervention. We can act on the pressure gauge to raise the pressure if too low, or bleed the radiators to lower the pressure if too high.  

The alteration of boiler pressure, however, could be due to damage to the system's pipe joints and fittings, which could create leaks at the root of the drop in water pressure. This is quite a complex situation to deal with, and it is often best to contact a specialist technical engineer, as the leaking joint has to be identified.

To solve more complex pressure problems that lead to boiler lockouts, it is necessary to rely on specialist technical engineers such as Enel Partners. Discover the most suitable solutions for you for boiler repair and maintenance services.