Recognizing Common Boiler Problems

A boiler is an essential part of your home heating and cooling system, and repairs to it can be costly, especially when you are dealing with major issues that could have been prevented or at least mitigated if you recognized what was happening early on. In general, there are five issues that commonly affect boilers, and if you can recognize what might be going on earlier rather than later, you can reduce the amount of time your boiler is down by calling in a professional before it gets very serious.

• Probably the number one issue homeowners deal with in their boilers is a heat problem. In most cases, not giving off enough heat is a result of a problem with the water level, the internal atmosphere, or a problem with mineral deposits in the boiler. Sometimes a combination of all of these issues creates a huge mess. If you notice that your boiler is starting to lose heat, call an HVAC specialist right away to have it checked out.

• Another common problem is an issue with the expansion tank. The unit needs the right amount of air and water inside of it in order to work properly. An easy way to tell if the expansion tank is functioning properly is to look at the temperature gauges on the bottom and the top of the tank. The bottom one should be hotter if it is working properly. Whenever you are in doubt, it is always best to call a professional because these kinds of problems can get very complicated.

• Sometimes parts on the radiator go bad and need to be replaced. This is definitely a job for an HVAC technician to handle, especially because it’s one of those things that may be impossible to diagnose on your own. The radiator has many different parts to it, and an HVAC technician generally keeps a supply of all the parts that commonly go out on a radiator.

• The thermocouple sensor sometimes goes bad. If you see that the pilot light has gone out on your boiler, then you may have an issue with the thermocouple sensor. Of course sometimes the thermocouple sensor may still be affected even if the pilot light is still on. The thermocouple sensor actually keeps track of how much heat is being produced. This one is definitely a job for a technician. It is not recommended that you try to relight the pilot light on your own.

• Water leaks are another common boiler problem. The issue with water leaks is the fact that sometimes they may be so small that you won’t be able to figure out why the boiler is malfunctioning. If the leak is quite large, then it will be very obvious, but the water coming out from small leaks tends to evaporate quickly. They can be nearly impossible to detect.

No one likes having to deal with getting their boiler fixed, but knowing the basics about how a boiler works can go a long way. Spring Home HVAC will help you take care of all your boiler problems in Toronto. Their technicians have years of experience dealing with all of the most popular brands. The company is an authorized dealer and installer of Rinnai and NY Thermal systems. In addition to being able to fix problems, they can also install new boilers or help you make the transition over to a tankless water heater. Spring Home HVAC guarantees all of their work in writing so that their customers do not wonder if they have fixed it right.