What to Do If Your Heating Fails in Winter (UK)
Boiler stopped in a cold snap? Quick checks to try, how to keep everyone warm safely, and what never to use for heat indoors.
A boiler that stops in the middle of a cold snap is one of the most common household emergencies in the UK, and engineers are busiest exactly when you need one. Knowing a few safe checks, and how to keep warm while you wait, takes the panic out of it.
Based on GOV.UK Be Ready guidance.
Quick checks before you call an engineer
- Check the thermostat, timer and any smart controls are on and set high enough.
- Check the boiler pressure gauge against the range in your boiler manual. Low pressure is a common cause of shutdowns.
- In freezing weather, a frozen condensate pipe (the plastic pipe running outside from many condensing boilers) often stops the boiler. Pouring warm, not boiling, water along it can thaw it, then reset the boiler as the manual describes.
- Check you have gas and electricity elsewhere in the house, and that the boiler’s fused spur switch is on.
- Never open the boiler casing yourself. Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Keeping warm while you wait
- Pick one room, close the curtains and doors, and keep everyone together in it.
- GOV.UK advises heating the rooms you use most to at least 18°C if you can, for example with a safe electric heater.
- Wear several thin layers, a hat and thick socks, and use blankets and sleeping bags.
- Hot drinks and regular meals help your body keep warm.
- Check on older relatives and neighbours, who are most at risk from the cold.
What never to use for heat
Never use a gas cooker, oven, barbecue, camping stove or patio heater to heat a room. They produce carbon monoxide, which you can’t see or smell and which can kill. A carbon monoxide alarm meeting EN 50291 is essential in any home with fuel-burning appliances, as GOV.UK’s cold weather advice says.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if my boiler stops working in winter?
Check the thermostat, timer and boiler pressure, and in freezing weather check the condensate pipe for ice. If it still won’t work, call a Gas Safe registered engineer and keep warm in one heated room meanwhile.
How do I keep warm without central heating?
Heat one room if you can, close doors and curtains, wear layers, use blankets and sleeping bags, and have hot drinks. Never use gas cookers or barbecues for heat.
How do I unfreeze a boiler condensate pipe?
Pour warm, not boiling, water slowly along the outside pipe, or hold a hot water bottle against it, then reset the boiler following its manual.
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.