A heating emergency is anything that puts people or the property at risk: a smell of gas, a carbon monoxide alarm going off, water pouring from the boiler or pipes, or no heating at all when someone vulnerable is at home in freezing weather. Those need action straight away. A noisy boiler or one cold radiator usually doesn’t. If you’re in Bexley or nearby and not sure which side of the line you’re on, our emergency repairs team can talk it through, and if the boiler is past saving we cover boiler installations in Bromley too.
Call for help immediately
Some problems are genuine emergencies. Don’t wait for the morning.
You smell gas. Turn off the gas at the meter if it’s safe to reach, open doors and windows, don’t use light switches or anything that could spark, and get everyone outside. Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. They’re free and available around the clock. Our guide to the signs of a gas leak explains what to look out for.
Your carbon monoxide alarm sounds. Open windows, turn off gas appliances if you can, get out into fresh air and call the same emergency number. If anyone has headaches, dizziness, sickness or drowsiness, get medical help. If you don’t have an alarm, our carbon monoxide alarms page covers what to fit.
Water is pouring out. A burst pipe or a boiler leaking heavily can bring down a ceiling. Turn off the water at the stopcock, switch off the boiler at the fused spur, and turn off electrics near the leak if it’s safe to do so.
Urgent, but not a 999-style emergency
These need an engineer soon, ideally the same day in cold weather:
- No heating and no hot water during a cold snap
- No heating where there’s a baby, an elderly person or someone unwell at home
- A boiler that keeps locking out and won’t stay running
- Scorch marks, sooting or a yellow, lazy flame on a gas appliance
The flame and sooting signs are worth treating seriously, as they can point to poor combustion. Stop using the appliance until a Gas Safe registered engineer has checked it.
Problems that can usually wait
Not every fault needs an emergency call-out. These can normally be booked in as a standard heating repair:
- One radiator cold while the rest are fine
- A boiler that’s noisier than usual but still working
- Pressure that drops slowly over a week or two
- Hot water that runs a little cooler than normal
- A dripping valve that you can catch with a bowl
Booking these in during normal hours is usually quicker to arrange and avoids out-of-hours rates. If anything gets worse, call back.
Safe things to check before you call
If the heating has simply stopped, a few checks can save a wasted visit:
- Is there power to the boiler and is the display lit?
- Is the thermostat turned up and the timer calling for heat?
- Is there gas to the hob, or credit on a prepayment meter?
- Is the pressure gauge in the range your manual shows?
- In frost, could the condensate pipe outside be frozen?
Try one reset if the boiler shows a lockout. If it locks out again, leave it. Don’t take the casing off or touch the flue.
Emergency heating help across South London and Kent
Homes around Croydon, Bexley and Bromley range from Victorian conversions with long pipe runs to modern flats, and the risks vary. Older houses with pipework in cold lofts or under suspended floors are more likely to see a burst pipe in a hard frost. If your boiler keeps failing every winter, it may be time to look at replacing it, and we fit new boilers across the surrounding areas.
Frequently asked questions
Is no heating an emergency?
It depends on who’s at home and how cold it is. For most healthy adults, no heating for a night is uncomfortable rather than dangerous, and a same-day or next-day repair is fine. Where there’s a baby, an elderly relative or someone unwell, treat it as urgent and say so when you call.
Who do I call if I smell gas?
Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside the property. They’ll make the supply safe. Once it’s safe, a Gas Safe registered engineer can find and repair the fault. Don’t call a heating company first, and don’t try to trace the leak yourself.
What can I use to keep warm while I wait?
Portable electric heaters, extra layers and closing doors to keep heat in one room all help. Keep heaters away from curtains and bedding and plug them straight into the wall. Never bring outdoor gas heaters, barbecues or camping stoves indoors, as they produce carbon monoxide.
Heating problem right now?
If your heating has failed and you’re not sure whether it’s an emergency, give us a call on 020 3722 5095 or drop us a message and we’ll tell you honestly how urgent it is and get an engineer to you.