5 Reasons Why Your Boiler Doesn’t Work
Like all machines, your boiler is prone to malfunction at some point and fail when you need it most. A quick inspection of your boiler can reveal a fault you can quickly fix. Discover five reasons why your boiler does not work and some ways to fix it.
- Frozen Condensate Pipe
The condensate pipe ensures water drains from your heating system. In most boilers, the condensate pipe is usually outside. During winter, the condensate pipe can freeze due to the low temperatures.
As water flows into the frozen pipe, it becomes ice and clogs. As a result, your boiler shuts down as the sensors detect the blockage. The boiler will emit gurgling sounds and indicate an error code.
To fix this problem, pour hot water on your condensate pipe until the ice melts and the trapped water flows out. To prevent a frozen condensate pipe, regularly inspect your condensate pipe. Additionally, wrap your condensate pipe with a cloth or in foam to insulate the pipe. This way, your boiler will heat up when you need a hot shower in the morning.
- Thermostat Issues
The thermostat controls the amount of heat your boiler emits. Therefore, a faulty thermostat could be responsible when the water fails to heat up. A thermostat could fail to work due to its location, old batteries, or simply an old thermostat.
A faint display means your thermostat may need a change of batteries. If you notice that the thermostat fails to register room temperatures appropriately, buy a new one. However, if the thermostat and the batteries are relatively new, yet it fails to work, the location is the problem.
When you place the thermostat close to a radiator or a cold place, the environment will affect the thermostat’s reading. To fix this problem, change the location of your thermostat.
- Pressure Issues
Usually, most boilers have the water pressure gauge set between 1 and 2 bars. The pressure set varies depending on the boiler’s model. Look at your manual to identify the recommended pressure for your boiler.
Excess or low pressure affects the functionality of your boiler. A loose valve can cause too much pressure. Also, if your radiators need bleeding, the water pressure tends to be high. An old or leaking boiler and faulty parts are usually the causes of low pressure.
Bleed the radiators to fix high-pressure issues. If the problem is low pressure, repressurize your boiler. However, if you repressurize the boiler and the low pressure persists, you might have a leaking boiler.
Inspect the pipes and the area around your boiler for any leaks. Refrain from attempting to open up the boiler.
- Radiator Faults
Inspect your radiators at the bottom — if they are cold, they have a problem. Over time, limescale, rust, and dirty water can clog up your radiators. If you notice you have cold radiators, call your HVAC contractor. They will bleed the radiators and apply a rust inhibitor to your radiators.
- Power Interference
Lack of power supply is a common reason your boiler will not work. When your boiler does not work, check if it is due to a power outage. Next, check for a tripped switch on your fuse box. If the power failure is due to a tripped switch, flip it on, and you are good to go.
If you notice your boiler does not work, conduct an inspection and fix the issues you can. But, if you need an expert to help you, contact us at Jennings Heating and Cooling Co., Inc., today. Our professionals will help get your boiler up and running again.
