You’re probably very frustrated if your boiler keeps shutting off without completing a heating cycle. In addition to your home not being as comfortable as you want it to be, a major appliance in your home is on the fritz. You’re probably seeing dollar signs and anticipating a major repair bill.
But sometimes boiler problems come down to simpler issues that our team can address easily. Keep reading to learn more about one common problem that can cause your boiler to turn off before completing a heating cycle. Then give our team called to schedule your boiler service in Federal Way, WA.
How Valve Issues Impact Boiler Operation
Your boiler has valves and pressure gauges that help it to maintain a precise level of internal pressure. The internal pressure is what keeps your boiler operating at its best. But it’s possible for the system to malfunction and pressure to dip too low or get too high.
Leaks are the most common reason for changes in pressure. When your boiler has a leak, it also allows air to enter the system. Your boiler needs to be completely airtight for correct operation and air in the system can interfere with how well your boiler can heat your home.
It’s also possible that the pressure release valve malfunctions and doesn’t allow your boiler to release pressure and help balance the system. You can monitor pressure gauges on your boiler to make sure they stay within the expected range. There are steps that you can take to adjust the internal pressure of your boiler.
However, if you are having to manually adjust pressure too frequently, that’s a red flag that something is wrong with how your boiler is operating. We need to get down to the root cause and fix it so that your boiler can operate correctly.
Risks of High Boiler Pressure
Boiler pressure that is too high can be very dangerous for the boiler itself, as well as your home and family. Pressure that stays too high for too long puts a lot of strain on your boiler, which can shorten its lifespan. High boiler pressure also increases the likelihood of your boiler exploding.
If there’s too much internal pressure, that pressure has to go somewhere. When your boiler reaches a point where it can no longer contain the internal pressure, it may explode. This is why it is so important to pay attention to the boiler pressure gauges and monitor them closely for pressure that is too high.
How to Address Boiler Pressure
Your boiler either has a filter valve or a drain-off valve. You can locate one of these two valves and open it to release a buildup of internal pressure. Both of these valves drain downward, so you’ll have to place a tub or bucket underneath the valve when you open it to release the pressure.
Another way to help rebalance pressure inside of your boiler is to bleed the radiator. This is actually a step that you should be doing monthly anyway as a part of boiler maintenance. Bleeding the radiator helps to get rid of any air buildup inside your boiler and can also help with balancing pressure.
As we already mentioned, these steps can help, but they may not address the root cause of high boiler pressure. If the pressure inside of your boiler is consistently high, we encourage you to give our team a call and schedule an appointment for professional service so that we can figure out if anything serious is wrong with your boiler and get it fixed.
Contact Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. today to schedule an appointment for boiler service! We take your comfort as seriously as you do.