Boiler Repair in Naperville

The Most Common Causes of Boiler Failure

Is your boiler not producing heat? Are there cold spots on your radiator or strange noises from your pipes? Diagnosing the causes of these issues takes an expert's eye. This is because the complexity of boilers often makes pinpointing the root of a problem difficult. We find many boiler issues in the Aurora and Plainfield areas are caused by:

• Broken Pilot Lights: Without a functioning pilot light, your boiler can't heat its fuel source. Though sometimes caused by a dirty burner, it's typically the result of a broken thermocouple.
• Frozen Condensate Pipes: Condensate pipes transport acidic water produced by the boiler to an outside drain. In extreme cold, this pipe can freeze and burst. This will produce an error code and alert you to a need for an HVAC technician.
• Excess Pressure: If your pressure gauge reads below “1” or in the red, your system is having a pressure problem. This can be caused by a water leak, faulty pressure relief valve, or excess air in the system. The best way to pinpoint the problem is to give First Care Heating and Air LLC—Naperville’s boiler repair experts—a call.
• Kettling: If your boiler’s making a deep rumbling sound, like a tea kettle on the verge of whistling, you have a pretty serious heating problem. This is typically caused by sludge or scale build-up on the heat exchanger. This obstructs the water, leading to kettling and whistling.
• Boiler Leaks: The most obvious sign of a boiler system is a leak. These can be a real nuisance, not only because of the water damage but because of the electrical malfunctions which typically follow.

Though boilers can fail throughout the heating system, problems typically occur at the beginning of winter after a long period of disuse. The sudden pressure on the system often strains worn out components leading to system failures. To stop your family from losing heat when you need it most, we suggest scheduling boiler maintenance annually.