Utah’s cold winters pose many challenges, especially when it comes to heating your home. Boilers always have to run longer and work harder when it’s extremely cold outside. This increased workload can expose weak spots, leading to ineffective heating or a sudden boiler failure. Many boiler issues start small, but they can quickly turn into a no-heat emergency if left unchecked. As such, it’s important that you understand the causes of the most common boiler problems in winter. You should also know the warning signs to watch for and when to call a professional for service.
Uneven Heat or Cold Rooms
One issue you may frequently encounter with radiant heating is cold spots caused by the boiler not heating evenly and certain radiators or baseboard heaters not warming up. Sometimes, air can get trapped in a pipe, creating a vacuum that blocks water from circulating through part of the system. Luckily, you can usually fix this quite easily by bleeding the radiator or baseboard to release the trapped air.
The other thing you should check when winter boiler troubleshooting is that the valves are fully open, as a partially closed valve reduces the amount of hot water that can flow. A bigger concern with cold spots is that they can indicate that there’s a problem with the circulator pump that’s preventing it from pumping water throughout the entire system.
Boiler Losing Pressure or Needing Frequent Refills
Maintaining the correct boiler pressure is essential for ensuring your radiant heating system works effectively and for avoiding potential safety concerns. For hot water boilers, the pressure should normally be between 1 and 1.5 bars when cold and between 1.5 and 2 bars when the boiler is heating. Most boilers have a green indicator zone on the gauge that shows the normal pressure range.
Low pressure or needing to frequently refill a boiler usually indicates a leak in a pipe, pipe fitting or the boiler itself. High pressure can also result in frequent refills, as the pressure relief valve opens to allow water out whenever the pressure gets too high.
Strange Noises: Banging, Rumbling, or “Kettling”
Banging, rumbling or a boiler kettling noise usually happens because of mineral buildup or sediment within the hot water tank. What happens is that the sediment absorbs heat from the burner and creates hot spots that cause the water to boil and produce steam. This results in the boiler producing a whistling sound similar to when you boil water in a kettle.
Overheating can also occur if air is trapped in the lines or the pump isn’t working properly, both of which can result in the water boiling inside the heat exchanger. These types of sounds tend to worsen when it’s colder outside, as a result of the boiler running more and getting hotter.
Boiler Short Cycling or Running Constantly
Circulation problems and kettling can sometimes lead to a boiler short cycling, which is when it shuts off before the water is fully hot and then turns back on again fairly quickly. What happens in this type of situation is that the steam makes the thermostat mistakenly think that the water is already fully hot. A faulty thermostat can also lead to the boiler overheating and continually cycling on and off.
If your boiler is running constantly, it usually means that it either isn’t heating effectively or that water isn’t circulating through the system properly. Ineffective heating often results from dirty components, such as the gas burner.
Pilot Light/Ignition Issues and Burner Problems
Issues with the gas supply, electronic igniter, pilot light or flame sensor can all either lead to a boiler failing to ignite or randomly turning off. Dirty, clogged burners can also lead to ignition failures. With older boilers, it’s somewhat common for the igniter or flame sensor to suddenly stop working during the first prolonged cold spell of the winter. This is when the boiler starts turning on more frequently.
Frozen or Blocked Boiler Venting (Cold-Weather Risk)
One of the biggest concerns in terms of safety is if the exhaust vent gets blocked by snow or condensation freezing inside it. If the vent is blocked, the combustion fumes will start backing up and potentially resulting in carbon monoxide escaping into the house. With a condensing boiler, you also need to make sure that the intake vent pipe isn’t blocked. If this vent is blocked, the flames won’t receive sufficient oxygen, resulting in excess carbon monoxide production.
When to Call a Pro for Boiler Repair in Utah Winters
There are various issues when you should immediately call a professional to inspect and service or repair your boiler. The most obvious ones are if you don’t have heat, repeated boiler shutdowns or the boiler displaying any error codes. Ventilation concerns require immediate attention due to the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Visible leaks, unusual sounds, strong odors or corrosion are also signs to watch for.
Catch Boiler Problems Early to Stay Warm All Winter
Watching out for signs like uneven heating, strange noises, short cycling and your boiler running continuously is crucial for avoiding major problems. By scheduling service as soon as you suspect any type of issue, you can avoid an emergency breakdown during the coldest parts of the winter.
At Call Climate Services, we’ve been helping homeowners in the Northern Salt Lake Valley overcome the full range of heating problems for over 25 years and are proud to be the trusted choice for Utah boiler repair.
To schedule boiler repair service for your home, contact us today.
