Has your boilers timer broken? What causes this common fault and how can you fix it?
The timer is a key component of a boiler which makes managing the heating of your home much easier.
But what if it stops working? Why might this happen and how can it be fixed?
Moreover, can it be fixed DIY or is a professional needed?
Let’s take a look!
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What is a Boiler Timer?
A boiler timer (a.k.a. boiler clock) gives households the opportunity to decide when their heating and hot water will come on and when it will turn off throughout the day.
Boiler timers have evolved over the years. If you have an older boiler, it will probably feature a mechanical timer which will resemble a small clock.
This should be present at the front of the boiler. Mechanical boiler timers come with various pins which cover the circumference of the timer.
The timer will signify where on its surface matches specific times of the day.
As a result, by pushing down various pins at certain positions on the boiler timer, you can set the heating or/and hot water to turn on at those specific times.
You may need to adjust a setting on your boiler (likely another manual setting) to ensure your boiler is following the schedule listed by your timer as opposed to waiting for you to turn the heating or/and hot water on or off demand.
The exact details of how all these works will vary from boiler to boiler so always check the manufacturer’s manual.
More modern boilers may come with a small digital screen which makes it easier and more intuitive to use your boiler timer.
Again though, you should always consult the manufacturer’s manual to be sure.
Why is my Boiler Timer Not Working?
There are many potential reasons why a boiler timer has stopped working and the fixes required can vary quite a bit, with some being DIY-suitable and others requiring the help of a professional.
The boiler Fuse Has Tripped
DIY-Friendly? Generally, yes
One of the more common reasons for a boiler timer malfunctioning is that the boiler fuse has tripped.
This would occur at the fuse board which manages the electricity supply for your household.
You can check whether this is the case by going to your fuse box.
Assuming you know where the boiler fuse is, you can check if it’s facing down. Of course, if you don’t know what fuse to look for, hire an electrician.
However, if you know what fuse to look for and it is down, you now know that the fuse related to your boiler has tripped.
Flip it back up and your boiler should regain power, and, in turn, the timer should work as normal again.
If you find that this hasn’t fixed the problem and if you have a modern boiler timer, it’s possible that the fuse has blown.
Return to your fuse box and turn off the power at the mains (for your entire household). Then find the fuse that relates to your boiler.
If you have the right skills and knowledge, you may remove the fuse with an electric screwdriver before replacing it with a new fuse.
Make sure to purchase the correct replacement fuse. You can turn the power off once everything is complete and safe.
Again, if in any doubt, hire a professional. If after all of the above, the issue still hasn’t been solved then something else is going on and you should hire a professional either way.
You may be interested in Gas Engineer Allen Hart explaining the most common boiler problems and how you can resolve them in the video below:
How to Fix the F1 Fault
You Forgot to Change the Clocks
DIY-Friendly? Yes
One possible cause of a boiler timer not working that’s easy to overlook is that you didn’t adjust the time on your boiler.
Old boilers usually require that you turn the physical timer/clock an hour forward or back to account for when the clocks change.
Many modern boilers will do this automatically but if you have an older boiler, don’t forget to do this manually.
If you forget to change the clocks, you’ll notice that your heating or/and hot water are suddenly turning on and off at the wrong time, specifically that they are off by an hour.
Power Cut Caused a Boiler Reset
DIY-Friendly? Yes
If your home recently experienced a power outage, this could have caused issues with your boiler and thus the boiler timer.
More specifically, power cuts can reset your boiler timer, thus you’d need to set your boiler timer again.
The thermostat Has Been Set Too Low
DIY-Friendly? Yes
In some cases, the issue may actually lie with your thermostat. If you have a combi boiler, it’s possible that your thermostat has been set to too low of a setting.
Simply increasing it to the right amount per the manufacturer’s instructions may be all that is required.
Zone Control
DIY-Friendly? Yes
If you have a combi boiler, it may feature zone control which allows you to set parts of your heating system to turn on and off based on your needs.
You may need to adjust the timer setting that relates to zone control to make sure it is working correctly.
Again, if you suspect this could be the issue at play, check how to solve it by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
The Boiler Timer Is Broken
DIY-Friendly? No
Lastly, the boiler timer may simply be broken and beyond repair.
In this case, you’d need to hire a qualified heating engineer to replace it.
This may cost somewhere in the region of £100 to £200.
It is also possible that a heating engineer upon determining what’s wrong with your boiler may discover other underlying problems which could lead to more expensive repairs, although it’s not the most likely outcome.
Resetting a Mechanical Boiler Timer
If you need to reset a mechanical boiler time, while you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, here is approximately what is required:
Turn the dial in a clockwise position to ensure you set the timer/clock to the right time. You should see the time in the middle of the timer.
Now focus on the pins that cover the circumference of the boiler timer. Press down the pins for the timers of the day you want to avail of your boiler’s services.
Ensure that you activate the boiler’s timer function. Most boilers with mechanical boiler timers come with a switch allowing you to switch between three options, those being on, off, and timer mode. Again, consult the manufacturer’s manual if you are unsure.
Resetting a Digital Boiler Timer
If you have a modern boiler with a digital timer, here are the steps that tend to be required:
First things first, make sure that the correct timer is appearing on your boiler’s displays. Most modern boilers with digital displays will update their timer automatically. However, per the manufacturer’s instructions, you can set it yourself if the boiler’s timer is not correct. Also, double-check that your boiler is set to AM or PM correctly.
You may then set the schedule for heating your home. Again, you’ll need to follow the instructions because how you can achieve this will vary from brand to brand. Some manufacturers include a program, set clock, or set time as the option for setting the heating schedule of a property. Digital timers also often allow households to set different schedules depending on the day of the week.
Once you’ve completed the above steps, you may need to select send or run to confirm your preferences and set it into motion. Once all is said and done, you should have your boiler timer working smoothly again.
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