Most people only know of furnaces for indoor heating. Boilers are however an energy-efficient and long lasting heating option since they contain very few moving parts and hence use little pumping energy. Boilers comprise continuous closed looped pipes which carry heated steam or water throughout your home and give off the heat to warm your indoors. The cold water is then sent back to the boiler for re-heating.
Like all appliances, you might need boiler repair for your Salt Lake City property at one time or another. The most common indicator of a boiler issue is its lack of heating. There are different methods touted online as efficient for troubleshooting and fixing the issue appropriately. These, however, put you at high risk of burns. You should then have a certified plumber diagnose the problem and handle it properly. The following are the common issues which might cause your boiler not to work.
Non-Igniting Burner
This is the leading cause of boilers failing to provide heat. It starts from the failure of your appliance’s gas jets to ignite because of a failed pilot light, a malfunctioning electronic igniter or issues in your boiler’s gas supply line. Tampering with a boiler’s burner while attempting to assess the source of the non-ignition typically causes leakage of carbon monoxide into your home. This could cause poisoning.
Broken Circulator Pump
The circulator pump is among your boiler’s few mechanical components. The pump is used to remove the heated water from the boiler and convey it to radiators and baseboard heaters which carry its heat throughout your home. If this pump is broken, then hot water will not circulate through the pipes.
Failed Heating Elements
There are two heating elements inside your boiler which warm the water. One of the leading causes of their malfunction is an influx of minerals on their surface which coat the surface and stop normal functioning in areas with hard water. If this is the cause of lack of heat from your boiler, the repair technician will usually replace the heating elements.
Thermostat Malfunction
The thermostat controls the temperature of your boiler. There are times however when the connection between your thermostat and the boiler is lost, and this will cause the water not to reach your desired temperature. In other instances, this might arise from a wrong thermostat setting. In both cases, getting a professional to take a look and diagnose the problem is your best bet to finding an efficient solution.
Leaks
Most boiler leaks are linked to corrosion, damaged valves, faulty pipe connections, and broken seals. The leaks result in less water getting to your boiler for heating and hence a reduced hot water output. This reduced output manifests as cold interiors since it cannot meet your heating needs.
With the simplicity of a boiler, most people assume that it can operate with no or minimal maintenance. More often than not, this results in grave issues with the ones above being the most common. With regular professional maintenance, problems with the boiler can be diagnosed early and adequately handled. You will not have to contend with a cold home because of a non-heating boiler.
