Why Is The Boiler tripping the Electrics? 9 Reasons

1) Faulty Pump

​Inside each boiler there is a pump to circulate the water around the heating system. When the pump is faulty, the boiler may not trip a switch when the boiler is turned on, it may take a couple of seconds before the pump is activated. The pump itself can short out its wiring or water can leak into the electrical side of the pump and cause a ground fault or earth fault. 
An electrical fault with a pump can sometimes be difficult to diagnose but if your pump is inside your boiler then a boiler engineer may be required in order to safely work on the fault.

2) Water Leaking

Water can leak from anywhere inside the boiler and affect the electrical system. There are many electrical parts inside a boiler that can mix with heating system liquids and cause circuit breaker trips. One of the most common causes of water leaking inside a boiler is a faulty diverter valve. This valve moves to allow hot water to be heated for the taps and moves back to allow the radiators to be heated. When this valve fails, water can begin to leak from the casing and drip onto other components. 
Check for water underneath your boiler to ascertain if there may be a leak inside the boiler. If your boiler pressure drops regularly then it is indicative that there may be a leak.

3) Thermostat Faulty

​A faulty thermostat can cause the boiler to run continuously, the home to become too warm or too cold and can cause electrics to trip if the boiler overheats. The wiring in the back of the thermostat could also be to blame if there are damaged cables.

4) Electrical Wiring Issues

Boilers need electricity in order to perform their functions. The electrical supply to the boiler is usually supplied from a wall socket or fused connection unit. These electrical accessories have a box behind to contain the wiring and occasionally there are wiring problems behind. One of the most common issues that causes the BOILER TRIPPING THE ELECTRICS is a screw (used to hold the electrical switch or socket in place) touching a neutral or live wire in the back of the box.

5) Overloaded Circuit

​Every electrical circuit is fed from the consumer unit or electrical panel. Each circuit contains a circuit breaker and electrical wiring. The circuit breaker is in place to prevent the wiring from overheating, catching fire or becoming damaged due to electrical faults. When the rating of the breaker is not sufficient for the equipment you are trying to use, the breaker may trip frequently. 
​A circuit breaker tripping occurs for two main reasons, the first is gradual overload through the use of too many electrical appliances and the second is due to large fault currents caused by electrical faults. 

When a circuit is overloaded, the boiler may add to the pressure of this. The boiler circuit is generally not a very power-hungry circuit but in some heating systems there is a water heater with electrical element separate to the boiler. This does demand a lot of electrical power and as such, may occasionally trip a circuit breaker or blow a fuse.

6) Internal Components Failed

Boilers have many internal components, such as the fan, PCB (printed circuit board), various valves, heat exchanger, sensors and more. All of these have some form of electrical input and supply meaning that when these components fail, they can also take the electrical supply out with them. You may find that a faulty PCB means the BOILER IS TRIPPING THE ELECTRICS or even failing to switch on at all! 

7) Moisture in Electrical Components

​Boilers are very hot environments, if any water is present then condensation and moisture become problems. One of the common issues is moisture on the PCB which can short it out and completely ruin it. Moisture can also make its way into other boiler components and cause tripping electrics. Where moisture us a problem you will usually find that the RCD / RCB / GFCI is the first device to trip rather than a circuit breaker.

8) Faulty Heating Element

When a heating element goes faulty in an immersion tank or water heater tank, the first device to trip off at the consumer unit, fuse box or electrical panel is normally the electric shock protection device (RCD, GFCI). In some cases, a faulty heating element may be difficult to diagnose because it may not be immediately apparent. A burnt-out heating element does not occur commonly with immersion tanks and can last for many years before failing. Defective heating elements may draw too much power causing circuit breakers to trip or leak electrical current to ground or earth leading to RCD / GFCI trips.

9) Poor Connections​

Loose connections are one of the most common electrical problems that can cause a BOILER TRIPPING THE ELECTRICS.​ Neutral wires in particular, when loose, are a common cause for tripping electrics. A Gas boiler has many electrical connections inside that connect to various components and the more electrical connections that there are, the more likely it is that one of these connections may work loose.

10) ​Frequently Asked questions

10.1) ​How do I know if the boiler is tripping the electrics due to a leak?

​Leaks can occur from many parts of the boiler and they can be difficult to find. Work inside a gas appliance should only be carried out by professionals but a good way of finding out if the boiler is leaking is to leave some kitchen paper / toilet paper underneath and wait for signs of dampness. Some leaks may be more obvious and large puddles may appear, use a bucket to catch these leaks and switch off the boiler until repairs can be carried out.

10.2) Is it safe to reset a tripped switch when the boiler trips it?

Generally speaking, NO. Do not reset a circuit breaker or RCD/GFCI device more than once in a short period. These devices trip because there are electrical faults present and by resetting them continually, you are risking serious electrical issues, wiring damage and possible even electrical fires. A short circuit on electrical wiring can cause mini explosions, melting metal and fire. An electrician should be called to investigate the causes of tripping switches but a heating engineer may also be needed if the boiler is the root cause.

10.3) Why is my boiler tripping the electrics but still working?

Just because a boiler is faulty does not necessarily mean it will cause the electrics to trip every time. A boiler problem can be intermittent or only occur during certain points on heating cycles. Fault valves are common causes for electrics tripping and may only show themselves when switching from hot water to heating modes or heating to hot water modes for instance. If you find that your electrics are tripping intermittently then it could well be the boiler or the circuit wiring leading to the boiler that is causing the issue.

10.4) How can I prevent my boiler from tripping the electrics in future?

​The best way to prevent unforeseen problems is to have your boiler serviced regularly by a specialist boiler engineer. Regular servicing will help to prevent breakdowns at inconvenient times. It’s best to have a boiler service during the summer when heating engineers are less busy as during the winter time, parts may be difficult to source and getting hold of a heating engineer may prove nearly impossible as short notice. 

​One completely free way to prevent boiler breakdowns is to switch your heating on during the summer time. Yes, that's right, whilst your boiler lays dormant during the summer time, valves can become stuck, debris can settle and block pipes and other components can seize without regular use. Operating the boiler each week during the summer will help alleviate any potential problems.

10.5) Can I fix a tripping boiler myself?

Generally speaking, it can be incredibly unsafe to attempt boiler repairs on a DIY basis. In the UK only a Gas Safe engineer can work on gas appliances which excludes you from removing the cover of the boiler. Many boilers have covers that should not be removed by anyone other than a Gas Safe engineer and for good reason. Gas appliances often have seals around the edges which, if damage, can leak dangerous products of combustion into the room. This is more of an issue with older boiler rather than new ones but it’s always best to seek professional assistance with boiler problems.