Troubleshooting the Boiler: 6 Things That Could Go Wrong

Is boiler trouble in your Delaware home causing you to blow your top? The following tips will help when it comes to troubleshooting the boiler in your home.

What to Look For When Troubleshooting Your Boiler

• The boiler doesn’t produce any heat. There can be many different reasons why the boiler isn’t heating: the fuse may be blown, the pilot light could be out, or the thermostat may need to be replaced.
• There’s not enough air or too much water in the expansion tank. For older systems, you may need to go hunting in the basement or attic to find the expansion tank. In newer systems, it’s typically found near the boiler.
• Some of the radiators aren’t putting out heat. This can be caused by a faulty circulator or zone valve. The problem could also be the end result of air trapped in the line or the radiator.
• Water leaking around the radiator. If you have water pooling around the radiator, you should contact a service technician right away to check for a faulty pump, relief valve or other type of plumbing problem.
• The pipes are making a racket. Noisy pipes generally have two causes: excess water that’s trapped in the return lines or a faulty circulator. Contact a technician for further instruction.
• The boiler is delivering poor heating performance. You can flush out the culprit by paying attention to when the problem first began. A slow gradual change in heating performance may be the result of mineral deposits building up in the boiler and heat exchanger. A rapid change may indicate an improper level of water.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

Photo Credit: Steve Snodgrass via Compfight cc