Boiler Repair: Troubleshooting Some Common Problems

Having issues with your boiler? Before you call out the professionals, there may be some things you can do to solve the problem on your own. Some issues can be fixed with limited knowledge, although there are others that clearly need the touch of an expert hand. If you aren’t sure how to tell which is which, please err on the side of caution and get a repairman out to your house before you make things worse. If you are confident, however, in your ability to fix some simple problems, here is a troubleshooting guide that can help you diagnose some common issues.

The first thing you’ll want to check is your thermostat. This is one of the most common problems for many boilers, and fixing it is rarely expensive. There may not even be anything wrong with it. Check to make sure it is set properly before you engage in any further troubleshooting. The temperature will need to be set higher than the current temperature of the room in order to cause the pilot light to start. If it is set correctly, check the circulator pump and see if it has started running. You can also check to see if the motor itself is hot, which will tell you if the machinery is working.

If this doesn’t solve the problem, it could be an issue with the power itself, and not the machine. Sometimes boiler repair just comes down to making sure it is getting the power supply it needs. Check your breaker box and see if it has tripped. If so, set it back and this should restore power. If you’re noticing that this problem happens frequently, you may want to take a look at how many appliances you’re running and whether some of them could be turned off or unplugged. You might be overstressing your home’s electricity supply.

So what if you’re getting plenty of power, but the motor is running exceptionally hot? In this case, boiler repair may need to be done to one of three things. The problem could be in the capacitor, the motor, or even the pump. If the motor is running cool, but there aren’t any problems on the breaker end of things (and you’ve already checked to make sure the thermostat is operating properly), there could be an issue with the circulator relay.

Your local hardware store may have parts you can purchase to make simple boiler repair adjustments, but you could be out of luck, depending on your make and model and the size of you hardware store. If you can’t make any further progress, do some research and find a good repair company in your area. Better to call a professional with the problem than to attempt fixes on your own, which could lead to making the problem more expensive.