Boiler Breakdown: Troubleshooting Common Heating Issues
As the winter chill settles in and you eagerly reach for the thermostat, the last thing you want is a misbehaving boiler leaving you in the cold. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that your boiler can break down. In some cases, proper and regular maintenance can help you stay ahead of such issues. Other times, the problem is unavoidable.
But what happens when your boiler is not doing its job of keeping you and your home warm? If your answer was to call in a professional boiler repair service, you’d be right! However, you may also be able to provide some quick fixes to some less technical boiler issues on your own.
From mysterious clunks to the dreaded icy air blowing from the vents, we walk you through some pro tips on troubleshooting common boiler heating issues.
5 Common Boiler Breakdown Problems and What to Do
Many people feel like boiler breakdowns occur because they feel taken for granted. While this may be impossible to prove, the truth is many boiler issues occur at the worst possible moments — almost as though they were planned. Not to worry, we can help.
The following paragraphs shed light on some of the more common boiler issues and some troubleshooting tips that may help you resolve them:
1. Boiler is leaking
More often than not, minor issues like small holes within your boiler pipework or broken seals are the culprits when your boiler is leaking. In other cases, extremely high pressure within your boiler may also cause it to leak.
However, a leaky boiler may also be a sign of a much more urgent problem. For instance, your heat exchanger or other internal components may be severely corroded.
What to do
We know we promised you troubleshooting tips. But if your boiler is leaking, we don’t recommend trying to fix this problem on your own. Instead, call in professional boiler repair services to come investigate and sort out the issue.
2. The pilot light keeps going off
This issue is more common with older boiler systems as newer models ignite electrically and do not need a pilot light. However, if your pilot light keeps going out, there may be a buildup of carbon deposits or other debris on the pilot light or gas nozzle. Other times, the issue is simpler. The flame may be in the path of a draft, which will keep blowing it out.
Alternatively, a faulty thermocouple may be the culprit as it will stop gas supply, thereby cutting off your pilot light.
What to Do
First, check if your other gas appliances are working. If they are not, then your gas supply may be the problem. Sorting this out with your gas supplier should fix the problem. If your other gas appliances are working, then you can try reigniting the pilot light according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If this boiler breakdown problem persists, then you may need to clean the pilot light itself. You should note that your pilot light is connected to your boiler’s gas network. So, if you don’t feel comfortable cleaning it yourself, please ring an expert.
3. Boiler is making noises
There are various noises your boiler may make that tell you that something is faulty. If your boiler is banging or gurgling, then the water pressure may be too low. Either that or the pump is failing. If your boiler is whistling, then air may have gotten into the system or there’s a buildup of limescale deposit on the heat exchanger.
You should note that knocking sounds are normal as they signal that your heating pipes are contracting and expanding. However, if the sound changes, then there may be a problem.
What to do
If your boiler is vibrating, you can check the boiler connectors or settings to be sure that everything is at it should be. If the pipes are banging, then check your pressure gauge to make sure water pressure is now too low. If the pressure is too low, try manually refilling the boiler until the water pressure is around 12 psi.
If you can’t find any apparent reason for the noises, you should call in an expert to check as there may be a much more serious boiler breakdown problem brewing.
4. Boiler not responding to thermostat
Most homeowners control their boiler’s heating schedule and the general temperature of their central heating system using a thermostat. If you’re one of this number and your boiler stops responding to the thermostat, it can quickly cause a lot of disruptions to your comfort and daily activities.
What to do
We recommend trying the simpler fixes first. A good place to start is your thermostat batteries. First check that the batteries are not low and switch them if they need changing. If that doesn’t work, check that the thermostat control is synced with the correct time if the clock has recently changed.
If that doesn’t work, restart your thermostat and confirm that all the settings are okay. If these tips don’t work, then it may be time to change your thermostat. But first call in a boiler repair professional to check that the thermostat is the actual problem.
5. Heating works but hot water doesn’t
If you’ve had your boiler system for a while, then the wear and tear associated with continuous use may cause this boiler breakdown. In this case, the culprit may be a faulty diverter valve.
The diverter valve is the component that diverts hot water between your various water outlets — say, tap and shower — and the central heating. Think about it as the traffic lights of your heating. For instance, when you turn your hot water tap on, the diverter valve shuts off water to the heating so that hot water comes out of the tap. When you shut off the taps, water flows back to the radiator.
However, sometimes, wear and tear may cause the diverter valves to start sticking, which may result in cold or lukewarm water. If the valve gets stuck when it shuts off the central heating, then your house may become too cold for comfort.
What to do
Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes with diverter valves. You will likely have to replace them and they don’t come cheap. In many cases, it is more cost-effective to replace your entire boiler system than to keep repairing or replacing parts that come down with old age. Either way, you’ll need to call in a boiler repair professional to help you sort things out.
Now That You Know
Hot water and a cozy home is just a few fixes away, whether you’re troubleshooting on your own or reaching out to us for professional boiler repair services. But remember, regular boiler maintenance can help you prevent most boiler issues. However, if they do occur, we hope that some of the tips and fixes we’ve shared in this blog help you resolve the issue and restore normalcy.
However, if the boiler breakdown is more than you can handle, we’re only a call away. Reach out to us at Crystal Clean vents and our season pros will help you conquer your boiler issues.