If you’re having boiler problems that are leaving your home without heat or are reducing your energy efficiency, there’s a few do-it-yourself repairs that you can try to get it going at full speed again. Not only will you save the trouble of having to pay a HVAC contractor to come out on a service call, you’ll get your heat back on right away. Of course, if you don’t feel comfortable with these steps or they don’t fix your boiler problems, you should call in a professional.

  1. Check the circuit breaker. Many problems are simply a matter of the power going out, so your first step should always be to check the circuit breaker or fuse box. Also make sure that it is plugged in as well.
  2. Check the water level. Perhaps surprisingly, boilers aren’t supposed to boil the water inside. They need air in the tank to maintain proper pressure and keep the water from boiling. Usually the tank should be half full and at 12-15 PSI, but always double-check your owner’s manual.
  3. Check the fuel source. One common cause of boiler problems at the start of the season is the fuel valve not being turned on. Check to make sure the boiler is receiving fuel and that the pilot light is lit.
  4. Check the thermostat. If you use a combined heating and cooling unit and it isn’t heating, it may be because it is set to cooling mode instead of heating mode. Also check to make sure the thermostat is working and its settings haven’t been changed.
  5. Check the radiator valves. If heat isn’t coming on in one room, check the valves for those radiators. They may be switched off or there may be air trapped in the system. To bleed out the air, open the valve until water comes out and then close it again.

If these tips didn’t resolve your boiler problems, contact Comfort Systems. We provide full heat and hot water services throughout the Wichita, Kansas area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wichita, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about boiler problems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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