Boiler problems can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Luckily, most problems with boilers are easy to diagnose and fix. There are several common boiler problems that affect homeowners across the country.
Here is a list of some of those issues and how to resolve them:
- No Heat or Unwanted Heat
When your boiler doesn’t produce heat, you may need to go through this simple checklist:
Do you have power to the unit? If there isn’t power going to the unit, then there won’t be anything for it to do! Check that all service shut-offs and breaker boxes are working correctly and that they haven’t been turned off accidentally. Ensure that all fuses are working and that the circuit breaker has not tripped.
Is the thermostat turned up? If it’s too cold inside, your boiler won’t produce heat. Turn up the thermostat and see if that gets things heating again.
Is the pilot lit? If the pilot is lit on your boiler, but nothing is happening, you may need to relight the pilot light. If it still doesn’t work after relighting, then you may need to contact a professional.
- Excessive Noise or Vibrations
If your boiler is making excessive noise inside of the unit, there’s either an issue with the pump, blower, compressor, or motor, and it will require immediate attention.
Contact a professional repair technician for help. However, vibrations can simply be due to high water levels, which is not necessarily an emergency issue.
Ensure that all air has been purged from the system by running hot water through faucets until the temperature returns entirely to normal before calling in a repair tech.
If you hear rattling noises when your boilers are working, you should turn off your boiler and call an engineer immediately as they could be caused by debris in the boiler or by expansion.
- Dirt or Rust in Your Water
If you start seeing dirt, rust, black sediment, or other particles in your water supply line after your boiler has been running for a while; there’s likely an internal issue with the heating system.
Shut off the unit and contact a professional to have it inspected as soon as possible — failing to do so may result in further damage.
- Leaking Unit
Water will leak from around the door seal if there is a gas smell coming from inside the home, which indicates higher than normal pressure levels within your unit.
This can be caused by trapped air within the system that needs to be purged out by following these steps:
- Turn off all gas supply valves located on the boiler.
- Turn off the power to the unit at the main electrical panel.
- Open all windows in your home to ensure that there are no combustible vapors inside, then open any doors leading outside.
- Ensure that all gas supply lines attached to your boiler are closed; remove them completely if necessary.
- Once everything has been properly vented, turn on the power to your unit again and let it run for about 15 minutes before turning it back on or attempting to use it again.
Contact a professional 24-hour plumber immediately if you still smell gas, as this could be an extremely dangerous situation!
- Water Leaking from Burner Boxes
If water is leaking from around your burner boxes and there’s no smell of gas, then it may be that there is debris inside your boiler that needs to be purged out. Follow these steps:
- Turn off the power to your unit at the main electrical panel. Open all windows in your home and ensure that no combustible vapors are present inside before ventilating by opening any doors leading outside.
- Remove both covers from around your burners (usually located on top of the heating system).
- Using a sharp object like an ice pick or screwdriver, attempt to remove large chunks of debris where you see water flowing out onto the floor. Ensure that you do not hit any valves or moving parts while doing this, as you can cause severe internal damage with tools where fine precision is necessary.
- Finally, turn on the power to your boiler again and watch for leaks while it runs. If you still notice water leaking out of the unit or around the burners, then repeat this process until clean water runs out without any obstructions.
Boilers can be highly complex equipment, and we know that many homeowners struggle to take care of them. That’s why we put together this article with five common problems you may face with your boiler and how to fix them, so you don’t have to worry about the high cost of repairs or getting scammed by dishonest contractors.
If you are experiencing any one of these issues, you need to get the issue fixed as soon as possible before more damage is done!
