In the holiday season, many people travel to visit family for Christmas and the New Year festivities. That means many of us will be cooking more meals at home, but it can also mean that your boiler might need some extra care. It’s easy for a heating system to get overwhelmed when constantly running in cold weather.
In this post, we’ll explore the top 6 issues your boiler might experience during the holiday season.
- The Boiler May Not Start
The first issue is the boiler may not start. If your boiler comes on and immediately shuts off, you likely need to run a cycle with no heat (a “purge”) before resetting it. This should be done as soon as possible to resolve the problem.
If your boiler is older, it may not have the power to start up during a cold snap. In this case, you’ll need to call a technician to give your system a tune-up.
- The Boiler Is Making Strange Noises
The second issue is strange noises coming from the boiler. This could be the metal expansion tank popping as it heats up, but other noises like hissing and banging could be signs of a cracked heat exchanger. If you hear any strange sounds coming from your boiler, call a qualified technician right away; we don’t want you to risk burning down your house. Companies like Lacey Plumbing can help you with your winter boiler issues.
- The Boiler is Leaking Water
The third issue is leaking water. If you see water on the floor around your boiler, call a technician to check for leaks. Even if it’s just condensation, you should always have your heating system checked out by a professional to prevent further damage or, even worse – an explosion. If you’re looking for an easy way to stay on top of your home’s boiler health, consider signing up for a boiler maintenance plan.
- The Boiler Is Overheating
The fourth issue is the boiler overheating. This can be caused by many things, but a common one is a dirty flame sensor. If you’re experiencing this problem, call a technician to clean the sensor and fix the issue.
- The Boiler Isn’t Producing Enough Heat
The fifth issue is the boiler not producing enough heat. This is probably an indication that it’s time for a tune-up, or it could be that something is blocking the airflow. Check to make sure there isn’t anything obstructing the flow of air. If you can’t find anything blocking it, we recommend having a technician come out to service your heating system.
- The Boiler has shut down
This could be a sign of a cracked heat exchanger, in which case you need to call a technician immediately.
A better option would be to have your heating system serviced before it breaks down completely and leaves you in the cold. If you’re looking for an easy way to stay on top of your home’s boiler health, consider signing up for a maintenance plan.
Conclusion
Turning your boiler on after it’s been off for a few months can cause issues. If you’re travelling to see family this holiday season, try to turn it on at least two weeks before so that the system has time to run properly and won’t be overwhelmed with an entire house of occupants all heating their homes at once.
