Boilers are a popular heating method, especially for large buildings. They’re common in businesses and apartment buildings, but many homeowners across Colorado also rely on boilers for heat.
Boilers offer many benefits. They can be efficient, allow the combination of hot water and central heat in one appliance, and, with proper maintenance, they can be relatively trouble-free. However, if your boiler isn’t properly maintained, it can lead to some significant issues. Here are some of the common issues your boiler might experience, and how regular boiler maintenance can help you avoid them.
Boiler Leaking
Whenever you have an appliance that uses water, there’s the risk that it will leak. This is also true of boilers, which can leak either at the boiler or at any of the pipes that carry hot water or steam throughout the building.
You might notice a boiler leak either because of water accumulation around the boiler, dampness in an unexpected place, mold growth, low boiler pressure, or difficulty heating. Boiler leaks are common in older systems, and a regular inspection of the system can often identify leaks early.
Noisy Boiler
A boiler is often noisy when there’s a leak in the system, allowing excess air in. It might also be due to sludge or limescale restricting the flow of water. The noise might sound like banging, gurgling, or whistling.
Try bleeding the radiators to see if this improves the noise. Otherwise, it might be time to get professional boiler repair. Regular boiler maintenance can head off boiler noises by cleaning the system and preventing the buildup of limescale.
No Heat or Hot Water
When your boiler isn’t producing heat or hot water, you want answers fast. This could be due to many different causes, including thermostat problems (more on that in a moment), or a boiler that fails to turn on.
Make sure the thermostat is set to a temperature that should trigger the boiler (note that the date and time could keep a programmable thermostat from triggering the boiler). Bleed radiators to make sure there’s not excess air in the system. Then make sure the boiler has power. Check to see if there’s a fault or lockout at the boiler. If your manual is handy, see if the fault or lockout is something you can easily resolve. If none of these give you heat or hot water, it’s time to get professional repair for your boiler.
Boiler Doesn’t Respond to Thermostat
If your boiler won’t turn on when the thermostat says it should, start by checking the thermostat. If it’s programmable, make sure the date, time, and programmed temperature are all correct. Make sure it has fresh batteries. Whether programmable or not, manually bump up the temperature to see if the boiler comes on.
Next, check the boiler to see if it has any error codes or a lockout. If you can clear any error codes, do so. If you have a voltmeter, you can test whether the thermostat is sending a signal to the boiler. If not, consider replacing the thermostat. Otherwise, contact professional help.
Frozen Condensate Pipe
The condensate pipe expels wastewater from the boiler to the outside. This is not water from the part of the system that distributes water through the home or that delivers hot water to your taps. Instead, it is water produced during the combustion of fuel, which, ideally, produces just carbon dioxide and water. This water is initially steam, and some escapes through the chimney, but the rest condenses and could cause problems for the system if it didn’t drain away, which is what the condensate pipe does.
If the condensate pipe is frozen, you may be able to thaw it by pouring hot water over the pipe or using a heat gun to defrost it. If this happens frequently, talk to a boiler expert about getting a new condensate pipe which is less likely to freeze.
Low Boiler Pressure
Low boiler pressure can cause the system to stop working. Most of the time, low boiler pressure is caused by a leak in the system somewhere. You can look for the leak yourself, either around the boiler or in the steam or water pipes. If you can find the leak, you can save your mechanic time, but you should not try to repair the leak yourself.
If you can’t find a leak, you can top off the boiler yourself, if you know how. However, if the boiler pressure keeps dropping, then you have a leak somewhere, and you should get a professional to look at the system.
Heat or Hot Water but Not Both
A combination boiler is set up to both heat the home and produce hot water for your taps. However, sometimes you might find that your boiler is performing one function or the other, but not both.
In this case, the culprit is typically the diverter valve, which is supposed to shift the hot water supply between the taps and the heat system. This is a repair best left to a boiler technician.
No Power to Boiler
If your boiler doesn’t have power, make sure the boiler is plugged in. Then make sure the circuit it’s on doesn’t have a tripped breaker, burnt out fuse, or additional switch controlling the outlet the boiler uses.
If none of these are keeping your boiler from getting power, then the problem is likely an electrical fault within the boiler, and you should call a boiler technician.
Water Not Hot Enough
If your boiler is producing hot water, but the water isn’t hot enough, you might notice it at the taps or feel the radiators aren’t providing enough warmth to your home, apartment building, or office. This situation is typically caused by a number of faulty components inside the boiler.
A boiler technician can evaluate your boiler, locate the faulty component, and let you know whether it’s best to replace the component or if it makes more sense to replace the boiler.
Boiler Repair in Denver
If your boiler is giving you trouble, let Major Heating and Air Conditioning help. Since 1970, we’ve been providing quality climate control solutions to residents and facility managers along the Front Range. We are experts in numerous types of heating and cooling technology, including boilers.
Our dedication to providing our customers with excellent value is why we’ve been able to maintain an A+ rating with the BBB since 1983. We offer 24/7 emergency service, so we can be on-site quickly to get your boiler working. We offer customized maintenance plans, so you get exactly what your equipment needs to keep functioning for years to come. However, if you do need a new boiler, we offer free estimates on new equipment.
If you need boiler maintenance or repair in the Denver Metro Area, please contact Major Heating and Air Conditioning today.
