A boiler that stops working rarely picks a good moment. MK Heating carries out boiler repair across East London for homes and businesses, with 24/7 call-outs for breakdowns. Our Gas Safe registered engineers find the fault, explain what has gone wrong in plain English, and give you a written quote before any work starts. You decide what happens next.
Common boiler faults we see
Most breakdowns fall into a handful of categories.
No heating or hot water. The cause can be anything from a failed motorised valve or pump to a thermostat that has lost its settings. We test each part in order until we find the one at fault, rather than replacing parts hopefully.
Leaks from the boiler or the pipework near it. A drip from under the casing often points to an internal seal or the pressure relief valve. Left alone, a small leak corrodes the fittings around it and turns a modest repair into a bigger one.
Pressure that keeps dropping. If you are re-pressurising the boiler every few days, water is escaping somewhere: a radiator valve, a joint under the floor, or the expansion vessel on older boilers.
Loud banging or kettling. Limescale builds up on the heat exchanger, traps water until it overheats, and the boiler rattles like a kettle. It is common in London because of hard water, and worse if ignored.
Pilot lights that will not stay lit, and error codes on the display. Modern boilers lock themselves out and flash a code when something is wrong. Tell us the code when you call: it helps us diagnose the fault before we arrive.
What happens during a repair visit
The engineer starts by listening to what you have noticed, then works through the boiler: gas and water supplies, pressures, the flue, and the components relevant to the fault. Once the cause is clear, you get a written quote for the repair before anything is replaced.
If you accept the quote, we do the work there and then in most cases, then run the boiler and check it is working safely before we leave. If a part needs ordering, we tell you how long it will take and what it will cost. Nothing gets done that you have not agreed to.
Boilers we repair
We work on all major gas boiler brands. The models we see most often around East London are Vaillant, Worcester Bosch, Baxi and Glow-worm, and the same applies to any gas combi, system or regular boiler.
Repair or replace? An honest answer
Repairs make sense when the boiler is otherwise sound. If a modest repair buys you several quiet years, replacing the boiler would be a waste of money, and we will say so.
Replacement starts to earn its keep when the boiler is well past ten years old, needs repeated visits, or has a failed part that is expensive because it has been discontinued. New condensing boilers also burn less gas than the ones they replace, which shows up on the bill. If a new boiler is the sensible route, we will quote for that instead: seeboiler installation for how the replacement works.
24/7 emergency boiler repair across East London
When the heating is off during a cold snap, we treat it as urgent. Emergency call-outs run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for burst pipes, uncontrolled leaks and no heating or hot water in freezing weather. Call 07950 619 002, day or night.
While you wait for the engineer, turn the water off at the stopcock if anything is leaking, and switch the boiler off if water is coming from the unit itself. Never take a boiler casing off yourself, and if you smell gas, leave the property and call the National Grid emergency line on 0800 111 999 first.
We also handleemergency plumbing across the same hours, so a leaking pipe and a dead boiler can go to the same number.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a boiler repair cost?
That depends on the fault and the parts involved. We diagnose the problem first, then give you a written quote before any work starts, so you know the full cost before deciding. We do not publish fixed prices because honest pricing depends on what we actually find.
How quickly can an engineer get to me?
We run 24/7 call-outs across East London, and emergencies are prioritised. Call 07950 619 002, describe the fault, and we will give you an honest arrival estimate rather than a promise we cannot keep.
Why does my boiler keep losing pressure?
Usually because water is escaping somewhere in the system: a valve or joint on a radiator, a joint under the floor, or the boiler's internal expansion vessel. Re-pressurising repeatedly hides the problem rather than fixing it, so it is worth getting the leak tracked down.
Is it worth repairing an older boiler?
Sometimes, yes. If the boiler has been reliable and this is its first fault, a repair is usually the sensible choice. If it is well past ten years old, has needed several repairs, or the failed part is discontinued, a replacement often costs less over the next few winters. We will quote for both so you can compare.
Which boiler brands do you repair?
We repair all major gas boiler brands. The ones we see most often in East London are Vaillant, Worcester Bosch, Baxi and Glow-worm.
What should I do while waiting for an emergency engineer?
Turn the water off at the stopcock if anything is leaking, switch the boiler off if water is coming from the boiler itself, and keep the area around the boiler clear. If you can smell gas, call the National Grid emergency line on 0800 111 999 first and leave the property.
Most of the faults above can be prevented with an annual boilerservice. And if you want to check whether we reach your street, see theareas we cover across East London.