What Makes Boilers Break Down?

Boilers are an efficient heating appliance that provides central heating and hot water throughout the home. There are various types of home heating systems, but boilers are the most strong and sturdy. Underneath the boiler cover is a range of advanced engineering and complicated technology. The components in a boiler have to work with each other in harmony to operate correctly. Like a domino effect, if one component fails, then the entire appliance fails. Sometimes boilers can break down, which happens due to a variety of reasons.

If your home runs on a boiler heating system, it is good to be aware of possible issues that can occur, as well as how to handle it. One of the most stressful situations for a homeowner is a broken heating system, which leads to unpleasant living conditions. With no hot water to shower with or heated air to maintain a warm temperature, conditions can become difficult to live in. If you ever run into a heating emergency where your boiler breaks down, just call us up at Guaranteed Plumbing & Heating, Inc., and we will arrive promptly to fix it. We provide 24-hour emergency heating services!

So, why is it that boilers break over time? We list a few points to explain why boilers break. Being aware of possible boiler issues can help you plan ahead of time in the event that an emergency happens.

Old Age

The most popular problem that occurs to boilers is rust and corrosion from old age. When the boiler starts to corrode, rust rots through the internal elements and causes mechanical failure. Rust also is the culprit of leak issues. Old age also causes gunk and debris to accumulate, which stops water from flowing through the appliance correctly.

Pipework Debris

Sometimes, the interconnecting pipework in the building can become stopped up with air and gunk, which halts water from properly circulating. When this happens, the boiler can become infiltrated, causing damage to the internal parts. The pipework system radiators can also become stopped up with debris as well.

Frozen Components

In subzero temperatures, the standing water in the boiler and pipes can become frozen. On the boiler, there is a part called the condensate pipe that eliminates steam and condensation from the appliance. If the condensate pipe freezes, the outlet becomes shut, causing the boiler to stop working.

Pilot Light Out

A boiler can break down due to the loss of the pilot light. The pilot light could go out for a variety of reasons, such as an air draft, the thermocouple is broken, or a deposit buildup.

Loss of Pressure

A precise amount of pressure is needed to keep the components in the boiler working. The pressure is managed by the pressure relief valve, and if it needs to be replaced, the boiler can malfunction.

If you need your boilers serviced or replaced, we can advise you on what the best option would be for your home. There are also new boiler systems that are energy efficient, and can save you money on utility bills. Call us for any of your boiler needs!