Heating boiler repair questions & answers for no heat or loss of heat.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how to diagnose & repair a heating boiler (hot water heat) that is not working.

This article series explains the diagnosis and correction of no heat conditions for water or hydronic or hot water or radiator or baseboard hot water heating systems. We describe how to inspect, troubleshoot and repair heating and air conditioning systems to inform home owners, buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects.

Older Heating boiler diagnosis & repair FAQs

These Questions & answers about troubleshooting and fixing heating boilers were posted originally

at BOILERS, HEATING - home

How efficient is a hot water heating boiler?

I just looked at a home to buy that has hot water boiler heat. Don't know age but owners say they have always had it maintained since he is a plumber. Are we crazy to consider a house with this type of heating system. How energy efficient are they? On 2014-04-13 by Diane Logsdon -

Reply by (mod)

The efficiency of a hot water heating boiler depends on the age and type of boiler, its fuel, and most important, how properly it has been serviced, including cleaning, adjusting, and tuning for proper operation.

A new condensing boiler may have an efficiency in the 90s while an oil boiler that's dirty and un-tuned could be as low as in the 60-70% range.

"Hot water boiler furnace" register blew from freezing - repairable?

I have a hot water boiler furnace. we have a register at the end of the system that has blown from freezing. Can we repair the weld at the seam where it blew or does it have to be replaced?

Can we cut out the old register and seal the line where it ends just before the blown register? replacing the heat in that room with another source of course. - On 2014-03-20 by Linda

Reply by (mod) - we have a register at the end of the system that has blown from freezing

Linda,

Do you mean a cast iron radiator, cast iron baseboard, or steel convector or copper baseboard or what? Generally one would replace a cracked or burst heating component.

While it can be possible to make an emergency repair of a cracked radiator using a suitable epoxy, replacement is more reliable.

Can a cracked heat exchanger cause the boiler to produce soot?

I have a weil mclean gold propane boiler, 19 ys old. Can a cracked heat exchanger CAUSE SOOT FROM THE BOILER? On 2014-03-18 by Renny Scheuerman -

Reply by (mod) -

Yes Renny, and

Watch out: the system is particularly unsafe because of the added risk of Carbon Moxide detection. Be sure you have working CO detectors. Obviously the CO risk can be greater for a warm air (forced hot air or "furnace" heating system than for a boiler.

Burning smell when boiler first turns on

My heating boiler had a pretty heavy burning smell for about 5 minutes when the
heat kicked on (we're in NY so its been on for the past 5 months).

My husband and I could
not find anything but now when the whole system kicks on and ignites it sounds like
we have an open blow tourch in our basement.

No smell anymore but frankly I am worried.
Our system is approximately 45 years old. On 2014-03-18 by Mary Rubin -

Reply by (mod) - your heater may be unsafe

Mary from your message alone I can't guess at what's wrong but what considering the potential risks involved I have to give advice that errs onthe "safe side":

Watch out: what you describe does not sound safe. If it were my system and there were sudden odors, smoke, or loud roaring noises (which could be a dangerous chimney fire) I would shut the system off and call the heating company for emergency service.

If you suspected a chimney fire (look outside at the chimney top for dense smoke or flame) call the fire department and get out of the house.

Oil fired burner makes popping or expansion like sounds when heating up

why would my peerless hot water oil fired burner make popping or expansion like sounds when heating up On 2014-03-04 by Anonymous -

Reply by (mod)

See the diagnostic and repair suggestions on these two pages

• OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home
• OIL BURNER OPERATING TROUBLE 

I don't have hot water but our home heating system is working

I don't have any hot water, but the furnace is running and supplying heat to the rest of the home. Any ideas where to start? On 2014-02-24 by Kirk

Reply by (mod) -

Kirk

Where to start when there is no hot water depends on how your home makes hot water; and on whether you see no water flow at all or just cold water flow.

If your hot water is made by a separate water heater, then we need to identify what sort that is: electric, gas, oil, solar, etc.

If your hot water is made by your boiler, the problem could be a closed or clogged valve or blocked tankless coil, or a failed circulator that uses your boiler to heat an indirect hot water tank.

See the diagnosis and repair steps beginning

at HOT WATER PRESSURE LOSS

On 2014-02-12 by Anonymous Uneven flame flutters when the burner is on

Have Burnham boiler. Model PV84WC-TBWN. Have changed filter and nozzle. It lights and runs but flame flutters durning cycle. Any suggestions. Thanks

Reply by (mod) -

Anon: uneven flame could be debris clogging, a blower assembly problem, or something else;

I think I'd want an experienced service tech to check the system. Keep us posted.

On 2014-01-27 by Jim Hamilton Aquastat tripping when an heat zone is satisfied at the set thermostat temp

We have a 14 year old system that has performed very well over that time period. There are 3 zones served by a Raypack boiler. Main floor served by air handler with forced air hot water heat. Basement and garage served by in-floor heat.

Following failure of main circulation pump in 2013 and one system circulation pump recently elected to replace 2 remaining pumps. Garage floor system was partially drained in that process. Tech has bled air from system.

We have been operating for 2 weeks with the Acquastat tripping when any heat zone is satisfied at set thermostat temp. Also boiler will only run if 2 zones called. Static water pressure is 12psi and operating pressure is approx. 30. Any thoughts?

On 2014-01-27 by (mod) -

Jim,

RE: "Aquastat tripping when an heat zone is satisfied at the set thermostat temp"

I don't quite understasnd. An aquastat "trip" to me means going off on safety reset.

That condition is not caused by the thermostat but usually by a flame or burner operating problem - such as a bad flame.

On 2014-01-25 by gwen What can I do to get the heat to rise up to the first floor?

what can I do to get the heat to rise up to the first floor because the heat is coming up in the basement

Reply by (mod) -

Gwen, we would need to know a bit more about your heating system to even venture a wild arm-waving guess. Is this forced warm air, hot water heat, baseboards? radiators? Steam heat?

Depending on the type of heating system one would be looking for different problems.

For example if your heat is forced hot water baseboards or radiators and you have heat on some floors but not others, I'd look for a stuck zone valve, a thermostat not working properly, or an air-bound heating zone.

But if the heat is forced warm air I'd look for closed registers, crimped or disconnected heating ducts, or a zone damper not working.

Can I replace my steam boiler gas valve with a millivolt gas valve?

I have a gas steam boiler in my home.
My question is could i remove my gas valve and replace it with a millivolt gas valve.
i Appreciate any information you could give me
Thank you - On 2012-11-27 by Frank Ammendolea

Reply by (mod) - probably not

Frank,
If you're trained or an electrical engineer, you could probably figure out how to swap in the "wrong" gas valve on a heater and make it work - but I'd not be willing to swap parts around;

The manufacturer of your boiler chose a control and matched its properties to all of the rest of the fuel and combustion and safety components - you're voiding warranty and perhaps making the system unsafe.

Maybe if you explain what's making you ask, we might have a different suggestion.

Want Advice on converting from hot water heat to forced air heat

We are looking at repairing an old water boiler system or replacing it with a forced air.

Added to the problem is that all the water pipes have asbestos wraps so we have an abatement problem as well. This a very old converted system that leaks and the water tanks leak so the whole system needs to be replaced.

We also are looking at "mudding in" doing something else to deal with the asbestos. The radiators have not leaked yet but they are cast iron and old.

Our concern is if we will have a plugging problem with the switch to a circulating pump from a gravity system due to sludge and if leaks will show up when the pump runs and moves the old sludge. If it leaks somewhere after we have spent the money to cover the asbestose we have that loss of investement.

Of course we need the pipes removed and duct work put in if we go the other way. So far the the costs appear to be expensive and close.Is there any advice you can give to us? On 2012-11-25 by Lyle Bren -

Reply by (mod)

To give accurate advice really requires an on-site un-biased heating company or independent engineer, but in general, converting from forced hot water to forced air heat in a building can be close to prohibitive in cost if you have to add ductwork to replace that original hot water distribution piping.

I'd be looking at a new high efficiency hot water boiler.

About asbestos on your hot water heating pipes - asbestos on pipes is usually safe and legal to leave alone if it's un-damaged and won't be disturbed.

See our complete advice on that question

at ASBESTOS PIPE INSULATION 

Bottom line: Before even considering a heating system complete redesign and swapout of both the heating plant and distribution, I'd be sure to get ALL of the costs involved.

You can encapsulate asbestos on heating pipes and leave it in place regardless of going to a completely different heating system.

We don't get heat unless our hot water heater is turned on - what's wrong?

Our heating- (gas fired boiler with hot water radiators) won't come on unless the hot water is on as well. Thermastat is above room temp. can you help please? On 2012-11-19 by Jane

Reply by (mod) -

Jane,

Sounds as if you have an indirect fired water heater that is heated by your boiler. As the hot water heater can turn on the heating boiler, that suggests the problem is with your room thermostat, thermostat wiring, or primary control.

I'd try disconnecting the thermostat wires and jumping the thermostat terminals at the control.

If the heater runs then the issue is at your thermostat or its wires.

If that sounds too complicated for you to do safely and comfortably, it's time to call a trained heating service technician.

- Can I replace my oil hot water furnace with my friend's steam furnace?

I currently have a an oil hot water furnace. A friend has a steam furnace she's getting rid of. Can my hot water furnace be replaced with her steam furnace? On 2012-11-07 by Donna

Reply by (mod) - probably not reasonable

Donna,

Most likely the swap in you suggest is not economical, as radiators, controls, even distribution piping all are likely to need changes to convert from hot water heat to steam heat.

But depending on the steam boiler itself, its condition, type, and other factors it MIGHT be that you'd consider converting the steamboiler itself to hot water.

But I'im afraid that labor costs and new parts costs could at the end make you wish you'd just ordered a new hot water (hydronic) boiler instead.

Thank you to our readers for their generous comments

On 2013-02-07 by Sean Crawford

I think you have a great website for a trade person and those who would like to learn one ,I want to congratulate you ,keep it up.

On 2014-01-26 by (mod) -

Sean, thanks for the kind note. We also welcome questions, critique, content suggestions. Daniel

 

NICE article series on fixing boilers, really helped me - On 2011-07-30 by PIYUSH

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Continue reading at DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see BOILER REPAIR FAQs-4 - more recently posted questions and answers about how to diagnose and fix problems with hot water heating boilers.

Or see this

Article Series Contents

• BOILERS, HEATING
• BOILER OPERATING PROBLEMS
• DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER
• OIL BURNER INSPECTION & REPAIR.
• GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS
• GAS BURNER SOOT CAUSE & CURE
• GAS BURNER PILOT LIGHT PROCEDURE
• RADIATORS for ROOM HEAT - topic home, for cold radiator or baseboard diagnosis and repair

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to HEATING BOILERS

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