Condensate pipes can commonly become blocked during the winter when cold weather causes them to freeze. The main function of this pipe is to vent harmful vapours from this system. When they’re blocked, the pressure can fluctuate, leading to the boiler displaying various fan faults and error codes.

The solution to this issue is to thaw out the pipe by pouring hot water on it and insulating it to prevent it from freezing again in the future. It’s best to seek advice from a professional before insulating the pipe yourself, especially if you live in a particularly cold area.

If your fan speed is low, it can cause other problems like the pilot light going out or the boiler system completely locking. These issues arise because of insufficient airflow within the system.

This fault can be resolved by increasing the fan speed to the right level, so you will need to contact a professional Gas Safety engineer.

Loose connections can happen as the fan creates small vibrations, which causes the wires and connections to loosen over time. As a result, your boiler can start to make strange noises and if the connection between the fan and the PCB loosens, the boiler can’t register that the fan is working, and the system will lock.

The best way to fix this fault is by a Gas Safe engineer checking the boiler for loose wires and connections because it is an internal problem it can only be sorted by a professional. The engineer will inspect the boiler, remove the casing, check the connection issues, and resolve the problem efficiently.

If there is a fault in your PCB, it can send the wrong signals to different parts within the boiler, including the fan. Not only that, but a faulty PCB can cause your boiler not to fire up. If your boiler is showing a fan fault code, you should contact an engineer as soon as possible.

In order to fix this fault, the engineer will need to determine whether the problem is with the fan or the PCB. They can do this by checking the PCB using a multi-meter. It could be that the issue is only minor like loose wiring connections in the PCB which they can easily resolve.

If the problem isn’t related to wiring, the engineer might say that you need a boiler PCB replacement. However, if your boiler is old, you might want to think about simply replacing the boiler itself as replacing a PCB can be costly.

When you start a boiler, the PCB sends signals to the fan through the air pressure switch. Therefore, if there is a fault with the air pressure switch, the boiler won’t be able to start up as it cannot register that the fan is working properly.

An engineer certified by Gas Safe can examine the issue and if there are no additional problems and the air pressure switch is the only concern, it might be that you simply need to substitute the button.

Over time leaks can happen in your boiler, it is quite a common occurrence, especially as they age. If they’re not found and fixed quickly, they can cause damage to elements of the boiler over time, such as the fan.

Leaks should always be fixed by an experienced engineer, if corrosion from the leak is the cause, they will need to find the source of the leak, repair it, and replace any damaged parts, for example the pump seal or heat exchanger. The fan itself might also need to be replaced if the leak damages it.