DIY Boiler Fixes: Heating Hacks That Can Ruin Your System
Not all heating hacks work, some can damage your boiler and cost you thousands. Discover the worst DIY heating fixes to avoid.
The internet is full of “heating hacks” that claim to save you money. But as heating engineers, we’ve seen the damage these so called tricks can do.
Here are the worst DIY heating hacks you should avoid:
- Repressurising your boiler incorrectly
Constantly topping up pressure without fixing the leak puts strain on your boiler and can lead to breakdowns. - Using leak sealant as a permanent fix
Leak sealants can clog your system, damage pumps, and shorten boiler lifespan. - Bypassing error codes
Covering up error messages or resetting repeatedly without addressing the issue is dangerous, those codes are there for safety. - Bleeding radiators without checking boiler pressure
This can lead to low system pressure, which causes heating inefficiency and boiler lockouts.
What You Should Do:
- Learn the basics (like how to top up pressure properly).
- Call a Gas Safe engineer for anything beyond simple maintenance.
- Focus on prevention: annual checks, pipe lagging, and regular servicing.
DIY can save money in the short term, but with boilers, one wrong move can mean a bigger cost to pay.
