A boiler is a complex piece of equipment. And yet, it’s one that rarely requires repair. That’s one of the great things about a boiler; it’s highly durable and tends to require little maintenance. That’s why you might be surprised when you notice problems with your boiler, but it’s bound to happen at some point or another.
Take a look at some of the problems you might come across when you own a boiler instead of a forced-air heating system like a furnace. (These are two very different systems, aside from their ignition systems.) It’s good to know what you might expect, and better to realize that routine preventative maintenance may be a good option for your home.
1. Kettling
Kettling is a major problem common to hot water boilers. If you don’t recognize the term, you may recognize the sound it makes: a loud banging or rumbling coming from the heating unit. If this happens to your heater, and you have not yet called in a technician to investigate, it’s time. This can become a much larger problem than it is now.
The disruption comes from a surplus of minerals in the water supply. Hard water is common in homes in our area, but with time, the mineral deposits change the pressure levels in the tank. A kettling boiler may be more likely to spring a leak or suffer from dangerous levels that put your home at risk.
2. Leaking and Dripping
Another common boiler repair, one that often comes to us as an emergency call, is when a boiler begins to leak. When the leak is coming directly from the boiler tank, you’ve got a major problem on your hands. The boiler has likely begun to corrode through and will require replacement. However, a leak can come from a pressure relief valve or a pump, and these things can be repaired. Sometimes, we even find that a supposed leak was only condensation!
3. Pilot Troubles
The pilot light is not what it used to be. In the past, you had to light the pilot light and leave it running throughout the day and night so heat was always available. Today, some boilers still use this method, but others use electronic ignition to heat water only when needed. If you cannot light a pilot light on your own, you’ll need heating technicians to diagnose pilot and ignition system issues.
4. No Heat
When we get a call about no heat coming from a boiler, there’s really no telling what we may find. While the problem could have to do with ignition, there are many possible problems to consider. A safety switch could be stopping the boiler from staying on, a pump may be broken, or you could just have a broken thermostat.
There’s no need to attempt to diagnose the problem yourself. Call in qualified heating technicians for repairs. And to avoid repairs altogether, schedule maintenance once per year with your local contractors.
You can prevent repairs by schedule heating maintenance with our friendly team today. But when you do need boiler repair in Romeoville, IL, contact Johansen & Anderson Inc.