Boilers always make a bit of noise, considering they’re mechanical pieces of technology. However, if your boiler’s making loud banging noises, gurgling noises, or anything other than the normal sound of it running, there’s most likely a problem. In this guide, you can find out what the different abnormal boiler noises mean and what to do about them.
Abnormal Noises Coming from Your Boiler or its Motors
Vibrating Noises
Vibrations or whooshing noises can be caused by a number of issues. All of these are fairly easy to repair, but if you don’t deal with the problem right away, it can cause major damage.
Vibrating noises could be caused by:
- A malfunctioning pump shaking inside the casing.
- The pump is on an incorrect setting, i.e. too high.
- Loose brackets that need tightening.
- Something trapped in the flue.
You might be able to fix some of these issues by checking for blockages in the exterior pipe or tightening the brackets. However, if these solutions don’t work, call your local HVAC company for further investigation.
Banging Noises
Loud banging noises coming from your boiler are not normal. It could indicate a faulty thermostat or a buildup of debris on the boiler’s heat exchanger. These kinds of noises could also mean that there’s low water flow or a loss of boiler pressure. The banging happens because there’s a sudden lack of circulation and pressure, followed by sharp increases in pressure. In most of these cases, it’s safer to call a qualified HVAC technician to repair the issue.
Gurgling Noises
A gurgling noise coming from your boiler could be because there’s air trapped in the system, low water pressure, or a frozen condensate pipe. While a small amount of gurgling is normal within a boiler, it’s important to have a technician assess the situation if the gurgling becomes loud or constant.
But, there are a couple of things you can do before calling your HVAC company, including:
- Bleed the radiator.
- Check the water pressure.
- Look for frozen pipes.
If none of these is the culprit, give your HVAC provider a call.
Whistling or Kettling Noises
Is your boiler sounding a bit like a kettle? This is called kettling and it’s a common boiler problem. It usually happens when there’s a large buildup of limescale on the boiler’s heat exchanger. It’s a natural process, and it happens more in areas with hard water. The limescale buildup causes the water flow to be restricted and heat up too much. You can explore the issue but it can be a complex problem better suited for a professional.
If these troubleshooting steps don’t work, you’ll have to call an HVAC technician:
- Bleed your radiators to remove the air.
- Check and adjust boiler pressure after bleeding the radiators.
Banging/Tapping Pipes
If you hear banging or tapping pipes when you turn on the hot water, your system could be overheating. Check the boiler’s thermostat by turning off the boiler and letting it cool down. After it’s cooled down, turn it back on and turn up the thermostat. If you don’t hear it click, call Spring Home.
Banging or tapping pipes could be due to pipework that’s not secure or that was improperly installed. Either way, a certified technician can resolve the problem.
Problems with Your Boiler?
If you’ve got a noisy boiler on your hands and you’re not sure what’s going on, call the experts at Spring Home. Our certified technicians will come to your house and investigate, diagnose, and fix the problem quickly and professionally because we’re Toronto’s boiler experts!
Boiler trouble? Call Spring Home.
For more helpful tips, information, and promotions, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
The Spring Home team has been servicing the HVAC needs of the GTA for over 20 years. Our award-winning team of licensed technicians is committed to providing our clients with service they can trust and equipment they can rely on.