Swindon · Wiltshire

Emergency Boiler Repair in Swindon: What To Do First

A dead boiler on a January night is stressful, but the sequence below keeps you safe and stops small faults becoming expensive ones.

If you can smell gas

1. Open windows and doors. 2. Do not operate light switches, doorbells or anything electrical. 3. Turn the gas supply off at the meter if it is safe to do so. 4. Leave the property, then call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 — this is a free 24-hour line.

This is the official first-aid sequence published by gov.uk and the Gas Safe Register. A gas leak is not a job for a private call-out first — the emergency service attends suspected gas escapes as a priority.

If the boiler has simply stopped

• Check the pressure gauge. Most combi boilers should sit between 1 and 2 bar when cold. Below that, many boilers lock out (see our pressure guide).
• Check the condensate pipe. In freezing weather a frozen condensate pipe is the single most common winter call-out in Wiltshire. Thawing it with warm (not boiling) water often restores service.
• Check the timer and thermostat — misconfigured controls mimic breakdowns.
• Note any fault code on the display and the boiler's brand and model before you call anyone; it speeds up diagnosis and parts ordering.

Choosing a repair service

Use a Gas Safe registered engineer, ask for the call-out and diagnosis fee up front, and get the repair quote in writing before work starts. Our costs guide sets out typical Swindon price ranges so you can judge quotes.