What are some of the most common boiler faults?
Homeowners are always looking for ways to save money on their energy bills, and one of the best ways to do that is by keeping your boiler in good working order. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t know how to do that, and end up paying for expensive repairs when a simple tune-up could have prevented them. In this blog post, we’ll talk about some of the most common boiler problems and how to fix them. Stay warm this winter with our tips!
What can cause a boiler to stop working?
There are many things that can cause a boiler to stop working. Some of these problems are relatively common and easy to fix yourself, while others may require the assistance of a professional plumber.
Some of the most common reasons for why boilers do not work properly include:
>The pilot light is out
>Leaks occur around the boiler
>The gas pressure is too low
How do I know if my boiler is faulty?
In some cases, a boiler will stop working unexpectedly and it can be difficult to determine what is wrong with it. In these cases, the best thing that you can do is call in a professional plumber for help. When your boiler is not functioning properly, there are a few things that you should always check before calling in a professional:
>The pilot light is out. If there is no gas burning in the burners, it may indicate that the pilot light has gone out. The easiest way to remedy this problem is to relight the pilot light with a lighter or stick match.
>Leakage around the boiler. A leaky boiler can cause major problems for homeowners, so it is important to check for any signs of leakage around the boiler.
>The gas pressure is too low. In some cases, your boiler may be working properly but the fuel supply that feeds into it may be too weak. A qualified plumber will be able to fix this issue with minimal hassle.
How do I relight the pilot light on my boiler?
There are a few ways that you can relight a pilot light, depending on what type of boiler you have. In most cases, a standard direct-vent natural gas or propane system will include a safety shutoff switch that is triggered when there is no flame for thirty seconds.
In these cases, it is a good idea to check the switch and ensure that there is power going to it. If your control panel has a reset button, hit it if you have not already done so. If this does not solve the problem, you may need to relight the pilot light by hand. To do this:
1) Turn off the gas supply to the unit.
2) Locate the pilot light and hold a lit match or lighter near it. When you do so, look for the gas flow indicator to indicate that there is a flame. If you see one, keep your hand in place until it extinguishes itself. Once this happens, exit the room immediately and continue to monitor the unit until it successfully lights.
3) If the pilot light does not relight on its own, try manually lighting it with a lighter or stick match. To do this, turn off your gas supply once again and hold the flame near where you see smoke escaping from the unit. Look for a small flame that indicates that the unit is lit. If there isn’t one, hold the flame in place until it lights or you see the smell of gas dissipate. Once this happens, exit the room immediately and proceed to turn on your gas supply.
If none of these methods work for relighting the pilot light, do not attempt to manually relight it yourself . It is best to call in a professional if this happens.
What to do if boiler The gas pressure is too low?
If you are having trouble with your boiler producing any heat, the first thing that you should do is check the gas pressure. If the gas pressure is below what it should be, there are several things that you can try to fix this problem on your own:
>Check for leaks around the unit. Look for any signs of damage or moisture around the boiler and repair it with a waterproof sealant.
>Check the gas line for blockage. Remove any blocks in the line using a plumber’s snake, pressure washer or compressed air hose to clean out debris that is preventing gas from entering the unit.
>Increase pressure at the meter. It may be possible that your utility is set to deliver a lower gas pressure than what your boiler requires. If this is the case, you will need to contact them and ask that they turn up your pressure.
>Increase the pressure at the regulator on the side of the unit with a wrench if it is possible to do so. Look for an ‘in’ and ‘out’