Diagnose Your Boiler Problems With These Three Simple Questions
Unlike a furnace which you might only use during the cold winter months, you use your boiler year-round. Your boiler heats hot water so you can use it in the kitchen, bathroom, and even in the laundry room. Fortunately, boilers are sturdy and typically require little to no upkeep. Like all mechanical devices, though, boilers can eventually wear out and begin to give you trouble. Ask yourself these questions to diagnose and fix your boiler problems.
1. Is your boiler making a strange sound?
Some noise is normal when your boiler turns on, but extremely loud noises or noises you haven't heard before are often the first sign of trouble. If your boiler makes a loud banging noise as it starts up, your machine's circulator might be broken. Alternatively, hard water might be causing mineral deposits to form inside your boiler's tank. Left unchecked, these deposits can alter the pressure levels in your boiler, leading to an unbalanced system that makes noise as it works.
2. Is your boiler making hot water at all?
If you run out of water halfway through your shower, that indicates a problem with your boiler. However, it indicates a different problem than a boiler that has stopped producing hot water at all. If your boiler's capacity to produce hot water seems diminished, it might be a sign that debris has built up in its tank, according to ABC Blog. A boiler that refuses to produce hot water at all may have a heating element that has burned out.
3. Is your pilot light off?
Depending on the type of boiler you have, this may or may not be a problem. Older models will feature a pilot light that's constantly lit; if you have one of these boilers and you discover your pilot light is out, you can try to solve the problem by manually relighting it. If you have a newer electric boiler that automatically lights the pilot when you want hot water, there might be a problem with your starter.
Once you've ascertained that there's a problem with your boiler, don't wait. Contact a boiler repair service right away. An experienced technician will arrive to inspect your boiler and give their expert opinion. Once the source of the trouble has been found, they'll be able to replace worn out parts and make the necessary repairs so that your boiler will be as good as new.