A "bubbling" boiler could be a sign of serious problem that could cost you £300 and leave you exposed to cold. The recent cold snaps showed just how vital boilers are when no amount of clothing layers is enough keep us warm.
When boilers break, it can leave households shivering in their home. Toolstation, a supplier of tools, accessories and building supplies, identified one sound from the boiler that could indicate a leak or overheating.
A bubbling or popping sound coming from your boiler could be a sign of various things, including low pressure or even kettling - when the boiler gets so hot the inside boils like it would in a kettle. Fixing it could cost between £75 and £300.
Toolstation said: "If you do hear a peculiar sound coming from your boiler, it's always good to call a professional either way just to double-check. Low pressure in your boiler usually just requires topping up."
Toolstation also gathered clips of other sounds that could indicate problems in the home, including whispering walls, hissing radiators, and a leaking gutter.
Scratching in walls
The sound of scratching in the walls "most likely means there is a pest problem", Toolstation warned. Rats or mice could have made their way in through a hole in the foundations, and could leave droppings, teeth marks or pungent smells around the home.
Pest control will assess the problem and help fix it for an estimated £90 to £240. Toolstation said: "If this is ignored, the pests could create a nest within your walls and start chewing through important wires. This could cause more serious problems and raise the cost to fix as you’d have to call out an electrician."
Hissing from the radiator
Water or air moving through the heating system makes a hissing noise. Too much air getting trapped in the radiator can stop it from heating, in part or in whole. The best way to fix it is by bleeding the radiator with a radiator key, which should cost between £1 and £13.
If the hissing is accompanied by banging, thumping or other louder noises, you might need a heating engineer to investigate further. Toolstation said: "Leaving your radiator to hiss and not bleeding it can lead to other problems that are worse than your original one.
"Firstly, trapped air means your heating will reduce despite you having it on, wasting your money. Leaving it for long enough will cause knock-on problems to the whole of your system and you'll eventually have to call in a plumber."
Rustling in the guttering
Perhaps it's a bird, but it's more likely to be a gutter leaking water through holes in pipes, a failed seal or broken brackets. You'll need a gutter servicing professional to have a look and fix the problem for between £120 and £180. Doing so quickly could save you money long-term.
Toolstation said: "Leaving the gutter to leak could mean causing further damage to the outside and the inside of your home. A continuous stream of water can cause damage to the external brickwork, and if left long enough, could eventually cause internal damp. This would cause damp patches, bubbling wallpaper and other water damage."
You can listen to these telltale sounds along with the warning signs of other potential problems, like creaky floorboards, electrical buzzing, dripping taps and whistling windows, here.
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