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HEATING SYSTEMS

AFUE DEFINITION, RATINGS
AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS
AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES
AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS

AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS
AIRBOUND HEAT SYSTEM REPAIRS
ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS
ANTI SCALD VALVES
ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings
APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings

BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT
BACKFLOW PREVENTERS
BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT
BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS
BAROMETRIC DAMPERS
BASEBOARD HEAT

BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE
BLEVE EXPLOSIONS
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION
BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING
BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES
BLUERAY Recall

BOILERS, HEATING
  Air Bleeder Valves
  Air Scoops Purgers Separators
  AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions
  BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT
  BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS
  BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS
  BOILER COMPONENTS & PARTS
  BOILER CONTROLS & SWITCHES
  CAD CELL RELAY SWITCH
  CHECK VALVES, HEATING SYSTEM
  Chemical treatments, Boiler
  Circulator Pumps & Relays
  DIAGNOSE & FIX BOILER
  DRAFT REGULATORS, BAROMETRIC DAMPERS
  ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH
  ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT
  Expansion Tanks
  FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS
  Gauges on Heating Equipment
  Limit Switches, Boilers
  Low Water Cutoff Valves, Boilers
  MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES
  OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES
  OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES
  Pressure Gauges, Boilers
  Pressure & Temperature Settings, Controls
  RELIEF VALVES - TP VALVES
  Reset Switch - Primary Control
  Reset Switch - electric motors
  SPILL SWITCHES
  STACK RELAYS
  THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING
  Water Feeder Valves, Hydronic Boiler
  Zone Valves

BOILER LEAKS CORROSION STAINS
BOILER LEAKS, HOW TO LOCATE
BOILER NOISE SMOKE ODORS
BOILER OPERATING PROBLEMS
  Types of Boiler Defects
  Air-bound radiators, baseboards, boilers
  COMBUSTION AIR DEFECTS
  Diagnose Loss of Heat
  Diagnose Oil Heat Noises
  FUEL UNIT, HEATING OIL PUMPS
  GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects
  OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS
  OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS
  Heat Won't Turn Off - Stop Unwanted Heat
  Heating Malfunctions & Implications
  Heating Defects & Implications
  Leaks at Heating Boilers
BOILER OPERATION DETAILS
BOILER PRESSURE & TEMPERATURE SETTINGS
BOOKSTORE - InspectAPedia
BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE

CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS
CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2
CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
CIRCULATOR PUMPS & RELAYS
COOL OFF HEAT, Thermostat Switch
COMBUSTION AIR
COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT buildings
COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ
COMPLETE COMBUSTION, Stoichiometric
CREOSOTE FIRE HAZARDS
CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES
CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES DAMAGE
CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS

DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms
DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER
DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-FURNACE
DIRECT VENTS / SIDE WALL VENTS
DIRECTORY of OIL TANK EXPERTS

DRAFT HOODS - gas fired
DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES
DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS
DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS

DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS
DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC?

ELECTRIC HEAT DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR
ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE
ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH
ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT
EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS

FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT
FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch
FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT
FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS
FAN LIMIT SWITCH
FAN NOISES

FILTERS, AIR for HVAC SYSTEMS
FILTERS, OIL on HEATING EQUIPMENT

FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS
FIREPLACES & HEARTHS
FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION
FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR
FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR
FLUE SIZE SPECIFICATIONS
FLUE VENT CONNECTORS
FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
FUEL UNIT, HEATING OIL PUMPS

FURNACES, HEATING
FURNACE CONTROLS & SWITCHES
FURNACE EFFICIENCY, HIGH vs MID
FURNACE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKS
FURNACE OPERATION DETAILS
FURNACE OPERATING TEMPERATURES

GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects
GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS

GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKS
HEAT LOSS in buildings
HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS
HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES
HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION

HEAT PUMPS, DiAGNOSIS, REPAIR
HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up
HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table
HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS
HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-BOILERS
HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-FURNACES
HEATING OIL CLOUD WAX GEL POINT
HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS
HEATING OIL - OLD, USEABLE?
HEATING OIL PIPING TROUBLES
HEATING OIL SHELF LIFE
HEATING OIL SLUDGE
HEATING OIL USAGE RATE
HEATING SMALL LOADS
HEATING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
HEATING SYSTEM INSPECTION DETAILS
HEATING SYSTEM NOISES
HEATING SYSTEM TYPES

HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILERS/FURNACES

HOT WATER HEATERS
HOT WATER IMPROVEMENT

INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT

LP & Natural Gas Safety Hazards

MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC
MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES
MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH

Natural Gas Combustion Products
NO HEAT - BOILER
NO HEAT - FURNACE
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
NOISE AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
NOISE, DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS
NOISE, HEATING SYSTEMS
NOISE, PLUMBING
NOISE, WATER HEATER

ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS FROM HEATING SYSTEMS
OIL BURNERS
OIL BURNER FUEL UNIT
OIL BURNER INSPECTION & REPAIR
OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS
OIL BURNER NOZZLE & ELECTRODES
OIL BURNERS, RETENTION HEAD
OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS
OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT
OIL FILTER MISSING
OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
OIL & GAS PIPING
OIL LINE CLOGGING FIX
OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES
OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES
OIL ODORS, LEAKY OIL TANK PIPING
OIL PUMP FUEL UNIT
OIL SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION
OIL TANKS

PLASTIC HEATER VENT
PULSE COMBUSTION HEATERS
PASCAL CALCULATIONS

RADIANT BARRIERS
RADIANT HEAT
RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid
RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES
RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES
RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES
RADIATORS
RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers
RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES
RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters
RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers
RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES
RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters
RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks
Reset Switch - Heater Primary Control
Reset Switch Broken - Quick Repair
Reset Switch - Electric Motors
Reset Switch - Stack Relays

SAFETY, HEATING INSPECTION
SAFETY,HOME HEATING TIPS
Safety Recalls, Chimneys, Vents, Heaters

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
SOOT on OIL FIRED HEATING EQUIPMENT
SPILL SWITCHES - Flue Gas Detection
SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS
STACK RELAY SWITCHES
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS
STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS

TANKLESS COILS
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
THERMAL MASS in buildings
THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS
THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING
Transite Pipe Chimneys & FlueS

VIDEO GUIDES: Heating System Videos
VIDEO GUIDES - InspectAPedia.com

WATER HEATERS
WATER HEATER SAFETY
WATER HEATERS for HOME HEATING USE?
WATER HEATER NOISES
WATER HEATER SCALE - De-Liming Procedure
WATER HEATER SCALE PREVENTION

WINTERIZE A BUILDING
Wood Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves
ZONE VALVES

More Information

Photograph of severe rust damage on a steel heating boiler How to Find Hidden Leaks in or on Hot Water Hydronic Heating Boilers
InspectAPedia®  -      

  • Boiler leak diagnosis and repair procedure for finding hidden leaks
  • How to find out if a hot water heating system is leaking
  • How to locate hidden leaks in hot water heating systems
  • How to find leaks in radiant floor or ceiling heating systems
  • How to diagnose, inspect, evaluate, repair heating boiler leaks
  • How to inspect & repair central hot water heating boilers - hydronic heating
  • Baseboard, radiator, convector heat inspection, defects, repairs
  • Questions & answers about leaks on hot water heating systems: how to find and fix leaks and hidden leaks in boilers, piping, tanks, condensate lines, controls, radiant tubing

Hot water heating system leak diagnosis & repair; here we explain how to determine that a hot water heating system is in fact leaking, and sceond we describe how to find the location of hidden leaks in or on heating boilers, hot water heat piping, baseboards, radiators, convectors, or radiant heat floors or ceilings.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

Tips for Finding Leaks on Hot Water Boilers or in Hot Water Heating Distribution Piping

Leak at heating baseboard connection (C) D FriedmanReaders should also see BOILER LEAKS CORROSION STAINS where we provide a catalog of places where leaks often occur on hot water heating systems. This website answers most questions about central hot water heating system troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs. We describe how to inspect residential heating systems to inform home owners, buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects.

The photograph at page top shows that a heating convector recessed into the wall had been leaking into the wall structure for a long time. The leak was discovered by removing the convector cover for direct inspection. We could also see evidence of this leak by inspecting for water stains or damage at the building sills in the basement below.

At above/left our photo shows a severe leak at an air bleed fitting on a hot water heating baseboard line that was eventually separated by freezing and frost-push. While freezing can burst piping and cause serious leaks in buildings, a bad solder joint may be dripping into a wall, ceiling or floor for quite some time before it is detected. Although the leakage rate in a hot water heating piing system increases when the system is hot and in use (and at higher operating pressure than when cold), much of the water leaking out of the piping evaporates.on the hot piping surface.

It is important to recognize and accurately report the significance of rust like this on any heating boiler. We continue to add to and update this text as new details are provided. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

Most modern heating boilers include an automatic water makeup valve that combines pressure reduction (to 12 psi cold on the boiler side of the valve) with automatically makeup water if the boiler pressure drops below that point. Details are at Water Feeder Valves, Hydronic Boiler.

How Do I Know if my Heating Boiler is Leaking?

A small water leak in a hot water heating system (hydronic heat) will eventually cause pressure loss in the system, but you may never notice this problem. Leaks on hot water heating systems are likely to occur, or to leak more rapidly when the heating system is hot (at higher pressure) than when it's cool.

The pressure drop from a small heating system water leak may be occurring over a long time, months or longer, and because the leaked-water may simply dry out on the hot heating piping where it is occurring you may never see a wet spot on a floor, wall, or ceiling below the leak.

Leaky air vent on boiler (C) Daniel FriedmanOur photo (left) shows the mineral build-up at a leaky air purge vent on a hot water heating system. Notice also those white leak stains on the boiler top itself.

How Do I Find Leaks on Hot Water Heating Systems?

To detect a small leak in a hydronic heating system we have had some success with these measures:

  • Inspect the entire hot water heating system, all hot water piping, the boiler, controls, valves, circulator pumps, piping elbows and piping, baseboards, radiators, air bleeders, etc. for evidence of mineral build-up that indicates a leak. If you have not already done so, take a look at BOILER LEAKS CORROSION STAINS where we provide a catalog of places where leaks often occur on hot water heating systems.
  • Temporarily turn off the water supply into the heating boiler and monitor the cold pressure of the system when it has shut down. If you see that the cold pressure, shown on your boiler's gauge is slowly dropping, especially if it falls by several psi over weeks or longer (for example over summer months when the boiler is shut down) there is probably a small leak somewhere.

    Remember that leaks are faster when the boiler is hot, but reading the "hot" pressure on the boiler won't help in this instance.
  • For radiant floor or ceiling heating systems that use hot water tubing, borrow or rent an infra red scanner or thermography camera to look for hot abnormal hot areas that spread out around a hidden leak - for example in a concrete floor slab. You'll find that you can easily spot the routing of the hot water tubing; look for an area where the heat spreads out more widely than at other tubing lengths. See RADIANT HEAT.

Leak at a boiler drain (C) Daniel Friedman

Look particularly closely where there are probably tubing connectors such as at manifolds and at the start and ends of tubing runs.

Look on floors and other building surfaces, not just at the piping itself. Our photo (left) shows the results of a dripping boiler drain.

A large water leak in a hot water heating system will usually show up quickly as a puddle, a ceiling, wall, or floor stain, or worse, as mineral clogging and damage to the boiler itself, caused by the excessive level of minerals in the constantly-added make-up water (if your area's water supply is high in mineral content).

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about leaks on hot water heating systems: how to find and fix leaks and hidden leaks in boilers, piping, tanks, condensate lines, controls, radiant tubing.

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Technical Reviewers & References

  • InspectAPedia.com® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
  • InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
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  • Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

BOILER LEAKS CORROSION STAINS
BOILER LEAKS, HOW TO LOCATE

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • Home Reference Book - Carson Dunlop The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
  • Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
  • DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
  • Fuel Oil & Oil Heating Magazine, 3621 Hill Rd., Parsippany, NJ 07054, 973-331-9545
  • Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
  • Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
  • Inspection Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Systems Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
  • Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
  • Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
  • Oil Tanks Above Ground, UL Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
  • Plastic Heating Vent Pipe & Other Heating Safety Recall Notices
  • Weil McLain Model GV Gas Boiler/gas valve CPSC recall/repair
  • Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners, Charles H. Burkhardt, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York 3rd Ed 1969.
  • National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
  • The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
  • Principles of Steam Heating, $13.25 includes postage. Fuel oil & Oil Heat Magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004.
  • The Lost Art of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, 516-579-3046 FAX
  • Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
  • "Residential Steam Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
  • "Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
  • "Warm Air Heating Systems". Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
  • Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Volume I, Heating Fundamentals,
  • Boilers, Boiler Conversions, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23389-4 (v. 1) Volume II, Oil, Gas, and Coal Burners, Controls, Ducts, Piping, Valves, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23390-7 (v. 2) Volume III, Radiant Heating, Water Heaters, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Air Cleaners, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23383-5 (v. 3) or ISBN 0-672-23380-0 (set) Special Sales Director, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY
  • Installation Guide for Residential Hydronic Heating Systems
  • Installation Guide #200, The Hydronics Institute, 35 Russo Place, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
  • The ABC's of Retention Head Oil Burners, National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, TM 115, National Old Timers' Association of the Energy Industry, PO Box 168, Mineola, NY 11501. (Excellent tips on spotting problems on oil-fired heating equipment. Booklet.)
  • Links to our list of additional information on heating system inspection, repair, maintenance
  • ...

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