- Hourly rate
- €114.95 incl. BTW, no call-out charge
- Minimum
- One hour, then per half hour
- Typical repair with a part
- €300-€400 incl. BTW
- Visits
- By appointment, 08:00-16:00, seven days a week
When to call it a breakdown
A boiler usually tells you something is wrong before it stops completely. These are the signs I get messages about most:
- no heating, no hot water, or both
- a fault code or a flashing light on the display
- pressure that keeps dropping, however often you top it up
- the boiler locking out and needing a reset again and again
- water dripping from the boiler or from the pipes underneath it
- new noises: banging, gurgling or a high whistle when it fires up
One of these on its own is not always a repair. Low pressure can be topped up, and a single lockout can follow a power cut. If it keeps happening, it needs looking at.
A few checks before you message me
These take five minutes and sometimes solve it:
- Power. Is the plug in and the switch on? Look at the fuse box as well.
- Thermostat. Is it asking for heat? Check the batteries and the programme.
- Pressure. Look at the gauge. My guide to boiler pressure and fault codes explains the numbers and how to top up.
- Gas. Do the other gas appliances work, such as the hob?
- One reset. If the manual allows it, reset once and note what happens.
Don’t take the casing off the boiler. Everything behind it is work for an engineer.
What I do on a repair visit
I start by finding the cause, not by swapping parts. I read the fault history where the boiler keeps one, check the pressure, the pump, the ignition and the sensors, and look at the expansion vessel and the pressure relief valve.
Once I know what is wrong, I tell you what it is, what fixing it involves and what it will cost. Parts are only fitted after you agree. Afterwards I test the boiler on heating and hot water and tell you what I found.
Some faults sit outside the boiler: a thermostat that no longer talks to it, air in the system, or a leak in the pipework. I check those too, so you are not paying for a boiler part the boiler didn’t need. When the thermostat is the problem, my guide to choosing a thermostat explains the options.
What a repair costs
My rate is €114.95 incl. BTW per hour, with no call-out charge. Materials are extra and listed separately.
With a replacement part, a typical repair comes to around €300-€400 incl. BTW. If a part has to be ordered, I tell you before I leave and we agree when I come back to fit it.
All my prices are on the prices page.
Repair or replace?
Most breakdowns are worth repairing. An older boiler with repeated faults, or parts that are hard to get, is a different conversation. I tell you honestly what I think a repair buys you, so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.
If replacing makes more sense, boiler installation explains how I quote a new boiler. And if you are wondering whether a heat pump is now required, read the rules on replacing a boiler first.
Visits and timing
I work by appointment, 08:00-16:00, seven days a week. I don’t run a 24-hour emergency service, and I would rather tell you that now than on a cold evening.
When you message, say whether the heating or the hot water has stopped completely. I will tell you when I can come, and if I can’t help in the time you need, I will say so.
Renting? Your landlord is usually responsible for the boiler, so tell them before you book. My guide to a boiler in a rented home explains who arranges and pays for what.
If the boiler is due for maintenance rather than broken, book boiler servicing instead.
Get your boiler looked at
Message me on WhatsApp with:
- a photo of the display, including any fault code
- a photo of the label with the make and model
- a photo of the pressure gauge
- your postcode and what happened
I’ll tell you what I think is going on and whether it needs a visit.
If you smell gas, leave the property and call 0800 9009 from outside. If a CO alarm sounds or you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone outside and call 112. Don’t wait for a repair appointment.
Common questions
My rate is €114.95 incl. BTW per hour, with no call-out charge. Two hours plus a replacement part typically comes to around €300-€400 incl. BTW. I explain the fault and the cost before I fit anything.
No. I work by appointment, 08:00-16:00, seven days a week. If your heating has stopped, say so when you message and I will tell you honestly whether I can help in the time you need.
The common makes, including Vaillant, Intergas, Remeha, ATAG and Nefit-Bosch. Send me the make, the model and any fault code first, so I can check the likely parts before I come.
Once is fine if the manual allows it. If the same fault comes back, stop resetting and message me. Repeated resets can hide a problem that needs looking at.
