Although boilers are not as common for home heating as furnaces, they have enough advantages to stay competitive.
One of the best advantages of having a boiler heat your home is how much longer these systems can last.
Boilers have fewer moving parts compared to a furnace or heat pump, which means they wear down slower and encounter repair problems less frequently.
But just because boiler repair isn’t as common as furnace repair doesn’t mean you can let your vigilance slide.
When your boiler begins to send signals it’s malfunctioning, the faster you act to get it inspected and repaired, the better in both the short-term and long-term.
We’ll make it easier for you to know when you’ve got a boiler problem with this list of the top warning signs.
1. Strange Noises
A malfunctioning boiler can make several unusual sounds. Since boilers make little noise when they run, these strange sounds should really jump out at you.
A gurgling noise often means air has gotten into the boiler, likely through a leak. A rumbling sound may seem like an ominous warning the boiler is going to explode, but this is extremely rare.
That sound is still a warning that the boiler is overheating for some reason. Have technicians check on any of these strange noises.
2. Water Leaks
A boiler is a closed loop system that circulates the same supply of water from the boiler tank to the various baseboard heaters, radiators, and in-floor piping.
Water should never leak from a boiler, so if you notice water pooling around the base of the unit or dripping down the tank or from the pipes, shut off the boiler and call for professional repairs immediately.
3. Uneven Heating
Are you discovering cold spots around your house when the boiler is running? Check the various terminal points in the room to see if they are heating up.
If they aren’t, the problem might be with one of the terminal points, or the boiler could have issues with its manifold.
The boiler may also be losing its general heating capacity due to deposits, lack of maintenance, or issues with gas flow. If you have an electric boiler, the problem might be a broken lower heating element.
4. Metallic Odor
You don’t want to detect strange smells from your boiler either—in fact, boilers shouldn’t create any odor! But if you notice a strange metallic smell from the boiler, it’s probably due to a fuel leak.
This is a serious problem that can lead to safety hazards, so please shut down your boiler and call professional technicians right away.
5. High Heating Bills
As with any central heating system, a rise in operating costs appearing on utility bills is often a warning that the heater is malfunctioning.
If you can’t account for the sudden uptick in the cost to run your boiler, it’s time to have professionals take a look to find out what’s making it work harder than normal.
Dewees HVAC proudly serves the Conway area. Call us for your heating and cooling needs—we’re here to keep you comfortable!