Contact the boiler repair company today and ask for a return visit under their workmanship guarantee, then confirm it in writing with the fault details and dates. If nothing is done, the usual result is repeated breakdowns, extra call-out charges, and longer periods without heating or hot water. Keep the boiler off if there is any smell of gas, signs of scorching, or the pressure is behaving erratically, and use the emergency route where needed. If the firm delays or disputes responsibility, move to a formal complaint and set a clear deadline for a fix or refund.
Most repeat-failure situations are resolved once the firm is pushed to treat it as a workmanship issue rather than a new job, especially when the evidence is tidy and the request is specific. If the boiler is unsafe or the household is vulnerable, the approach changes to prioritise safety and temporary heating while the complaint runs.
What the problem is
A boiler repair that “gets it going” for a short time and then fails again is a common UK household headache, particularly in winter when demand is high and engineers are stretched. It tends to affect owner-occupiers and private tenants alike, and it often shows up after a first call-out where a part was swapped, a reset was done, or the system was topped up and bled. The awkward stage is usually after the customer has already paid and received a brief invoice, but before any formal complaint has been made, or after a partial response such as “it’s working now” without a clear explanation of what was fixed.
It can also appear after a promised “temporary repair” while parts are on order, where the boiler runs for a few days and then locks out again. In many UK homes, the repeat failure happens at the worst time: early morning, weekends, or during a cold snap, when getting the same firm back quickly becomes difficult. The practical problem is not just the fault itself, but the uncertainty over whether the original repair should be put right without extra cost.
Why this happens
Repeat failures usually come from one of a few predictable patterns: the original fault was misdiagnosed, the repair addressed a symptom rather than the cause, or the system has an underlying issue (pressure loss, sludge, air, wiring faults, condensate problems) that was not fully checked during a short visit. Sometimes a part is replaced but the boiler still has a second failing component, so it appears “fixed” until the next cycle of heating demand. Another common cause is that the boiler was left running but not tested through a full heat-up and hot water cycle, so the lockout only returns later.
Business behaviour plays a role. When call-outs are booked back-to-back, the incentive is to restore service quickly, especially if the customer is cold and wants an immediate result. If the engineer is not the same person on the return visit, the second engineer may treat it as a new fault unless the job notes are clear and the customer frames it as a repeat issue linked to the earlier work. A typical organisational response pattern is that the firm initially offers another paid visit unless the customer clearly references the earlier invoice and asks for the matter to be handled as a return under guarantee.
There are also practical constraints: parts availability, manufacturer-specific diagnostics, and the condition of older systems. Where the repair was described as temporary, some firms rely on that wording to avoid responsibility for the repeat breakdown, even when the temporary measure was presented as adequate for normal use until parts arrived. The key is separating a genuinely new fault from a repeat of the same problem that should have been resolved properly the first time.
Your rights in UK
In the UK, the strongest practical position comes from treating the original repair as a paid service that should be carried out with reasonable care and skill. The leverage that usually works is a clear, calm request for the firm to put right the same fault without additional labour charges, backed by dates, symptoms, and what was paid for. Where the boiler failed again shortly after the visit, it is often persuasive to focus on outcomes: the repair did not last, the same error code or symptom returned, and the household relied on the firm’s assurance that it was fixed.
It also helps to be precise about what is being asked for. Rather than arguing about technical causes, ask for a return visit to diagnose and rectify the repeat fault, and for any further costs to be agreed in advance if the firm believes it is unrelated. If the firm supplied a part, ask whether it is covered by their warranty and whether the part is being replaced or tested. If the firm is Gas Safe registered, mention that safety concerns will be treated seriously and that the boiler will be left off if there are warning signs.
For tenants, the practical route depends on who instructed and paid for the repair. If the landlord arranged it, the complaint usually needs to go to the landlord or managing agent, because they control the contractor relationship. If the tenant paid directly with the landlord’s agreement, the tenant can still pursue the firm for the service quality, but it is often faster to keep the landlord informed so access and authorisation do not become a second delay.
Official basis in UK
The most relevant official basis is the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which in practice means a paid repair service should be done properly, and if it is not, the customer can usually require the trader to repeat the service or fix the problem at no extra cost within a reasonable time. This is not about winning an argument over the exact component; it is about showing that the service outcome was not durable and the trader should put it right. In UK cases, firms are more likely to act when the request is framed as a repeat-performance issue with a clear deadline and a record of the earlier job.
Use the official consumer wording and keep it practical: ask for the repair to be redone or corrected, and ask for a written response confirming the plan. GOV.UK’s consumer guidance supports the approach of requesting a remedy when a service has not been carried out with reasonable care and skill: GOV.UK consumer rights guidance.
Evidence that matters
Evidence is less about proving the engineering and more about showing the timeline and that the same problem returned. The most useful items are the invoice, job sheet notes, any texts or emails about what was done, and a simple record of what happened after the repair. Photos and short videos can help if they show the boiler display, pressure gauge behaviour, leaks, or the condensate pipe freezing, but avoid dismantling anything or interfering with sealed components.
Keep the record factual. Note the date and time the boiler failed again, what the boiler did (lockout, no hot water, radiators cold), and any error code. If the engineer said the repair was temporary, record the exact wording and whether any follow-up was promised. If there is a safety concern, record what was noticed and what action was taken (for example, turning the boiler off and calling the emergency number).
What not to do matters too. Do not keep repeatedly resetting the boiler if it is locking out, because it can mask the pattern and may worsen some faults. Do not pay for a second repair from the same firm “to get it sorted” without first putting in writing that it is a return for the same issue and asking for costs to be agreed. Do not post allegations online while the complaint is ongoing, because it can harden positions and distract from getting heat and hot water restored.
Checklist to gather before contacting them again:
- Invoice or receipt, including date, amount, and trader details
- Any job notes, warranty wording, or “temporary repair” messages
- Photo/video of the boiler display, pressure gauge, or visible leak
- Simple timeline of failure and any resets or bleed/top-ups done
Three common mistakes seen in UK repeat-failure complaints are: accepting a verbal promise without a written follow-up, describing the problem only as “broken again” without dates and symptoms, and agreeing to another charge before the firm confirms whether it is the same fault. One thing not to do yet is to instruct a new engineer to replace major parts unless safety requires immediate action, because it can make the original firm argue they were not given a fair chance to put it right.
What to do next
Start by treating this as a return visit request linked to the original job. Call the firm, give the invoice number, and state that the boiler has failed again with the same symptoms shortly after their repair. Ask for the earliest return appointment and request written confirmation by email or text that it is being handled under their workmanship guarantee or as a repeat-performance remedy, with no additional labour charge unless they can show it is unrelated and you agree the cost in advance.
Next, send a short written message the same day. Include the date of the original repair, the date it failed again, what the boiler is doing now, and what remedy is being requested: a return visit to diagnose and rectify the repeat fault within a reasonable time. If the household includes a baby, elderly person, or someone with a health condition affected by cold, say so briefly and ask for prioritisation, because UK firms often triage based on vulnerability when schedules are tight.
If the firm offers a paid call-out, respond by asking them to confirm in writing why they consider it a new fault and to provide a breakdown of what was done on the first visit. If the first visit was explicitly “temporary”, ask what was meant by temporary, what risk was explained, and what follow-up was promised. Keep the focus on restoring service and getting a clear plan, not on technical blame.
If there is no response, move to the official complaints process for that business only. Use the firm’s own complaints route (usually on their website, invoice, or terms) and submit the complaint through their official channel rather than informal messaging, because it is more likely to be logged and escalated internally. Prepare this information before submitting: the invoice number and date, a brief timeline, the current symptoms and any error code, and the remedy requested (repeat repair at no extra cost or a refund of the labour element if they refuse to put it right). Do not include unnecessary personal data beyond what is needed to identify the job and arrange access.
Checklist for the complaint submission:
- Invoice number and the address the work was done at
- Date of repair and date of repeat failure
- Current boiler symptoms and any error code
- What outcome is being requested and a deadline for response
A normal response timeframe for a small UK repair firm is within a couple of working days for acknowledgement and within a week for a proposed appointment, though winter backlogs can stretch this. If there is no acknowledgement by the end of the second working day, escalate by replying to the same complaint with “Formal complaint — no response” in the subject line and call once to ask for the complaints handler or manager. If there is still no plan by the end of a week, change strategy by getting a second opinion from another Gas Safe engineer for diagnosis and a written report, then return to the original firm with that summary and a final deadline to resolve or refund; if payment was by card, consider starting the card provider dispute route in parallel for the disputed element.
In UK cases, the issue is usually resolved when the firm agrees a prompt return visit and either corrects the underlying cause or refunds the labour charge so the household can move on without paying twice for the same outcome.
If the boiler shows signs of danger, treat safety as separate from the complaint. Turn the boiler off, ventilate if there is a smell of gas, and use the emergency route for gas concerns; do not wait for the firm’s schedule. If the property is rented and the landlord is responsible for repairs, notify the landlord or agent immediately in writing and ask them to arrange an urgent fix, because access and authorisation delays are a common reason UK households stay without heat longer than necessary.
Related issues on this site
If the repeat failure is part of a wider pattern, it can overlap with other problems that need a different approach. Where the trader keeps charging call-out fees without lasting results, the complaint may look more like a dispute over poor workmanship and refunds, similar to situations covered in builder won’t fix snags. If the home is rented and the landlord or agent is slow to act, the practical steps can align with landlord not fixing heating, especially when vulnerability or repeated missed appointments are involved.
Get help with the next step
Contact UKFixGuide — Get help drafting a calm message asking for a return visit and a clear deadline after a temporary boiler repair fails again.
