Emergency: No Heat Or A Boiler Problem Right Now
If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not flip switches. For any other boiler failure, such as no heat, water on the floor or a boiler that is shutting off and on, call now. Cold houses lose heat fast, and pipes can freeze if temperatures drop.
While you wait, check that the thermostat is set to heat, the boiler switch is on and the breaker has not tripped. If your boiler runs on oil, check the tank. If it is gas, make sure the gas valve is open.
Safety first
Never ignore a gas smell, a yellow flame, soot around the boiler or a carbon monoxide alarm. Leave the house and call emergency services. Use working carbon monoxide detectors on every level.
Common Boiler Problems
No heat or no hot water
Failed ignition, a bad circulator pump, a tripped limit switch or an empty oil tank are common causes.
Low or high pressure
Low pressure means a leak or air in the system. High pressure points to a failed expansion tank or relief valve.
Banging and gurgling
Air in the loop or buildup in the boiler makes noise. Bleeding and flushing often help.
Leaks
Water around the boiler may come from a relief valve, a fitting or the boiler itself. A leaking boiler body is usually replaced.
Short cycling
A boiler that turns on and off rapidly is wasting fuel and wearing out. Oversizing and failed controls are common causes.
What to do before the plumber arrives
A few steps keep you safe and make the visit faster. None of them involve opening the boiler.
- Turn the thermostat down so the boiler stops calling for heat.
- If you smell gas or oil fumes, leave the house and call 911 and your fuel supplier or gas utility.
- Check that carbon monoxide alarms are working and do not silence them.
- Do not relight a pilot or reset a lockout repeatedly.
- Keep the boiler area clear and note any error code or noise.
Heat Diagnosis: What We Check
We start with the simplest checks and work toward the complex. The thermostat, power, fuel, ignition, pressure, circulators and zone valves are tested in order. Most no heat calls are traced to one failed part rather than the whole boiler.
| Symptom | First checks | Often found |
|---|---|---|
| No heat at all | Power, thermostat, fuel | Tripped switch, bad ignitor, empty tank |
| Some zones cold | Zone valves and circulators | Failed zone valve or air in the loop |
| Pressure dropping | Fittings and relief valve | Small leak or failed fill valve |
| Banging pipes | Air and flow | Trapped air or scale |
| Water at the base | Fittings, relief valve, body | Loose fitting or leaking body |
Repair Or Replace A Boiler
Boilers are long lived, but not forever. A failed part on a sound boiler is a reasonable repair. A cracked heat exchanger, a leaking body or repeated expensive repairs point toward replacement. We explain the trade off clearly and give you the price before any work begins.
If your boiler also makes domestic hot water, a failure can leave you without both heat and showers. We can discuss water heater replacement if the two systems are linked and one is failing.
Repair makes sense when
- One part has failed
- The boiler is otherwise sound
- Repairs have been infrequent
- The system heats evenly
Replacement makes sense when
- The heat exchanger or body is leaking
- Repairs are frequent and costly
- Efficiency has dropped badly
- Parts are no longer available
Heating A Sandwich Home Through A Cape Cod Winter
Sandwich winters bring nor'easters and cold snaps, and the Town of Sandwich Department of Public Works publishes winter preparation information on storms, plowing and hydrants. Its page does not cover frozen pipes, so the basics fall to the homeowner. Keep a trickle of water in exposed lines during a hard freeze and open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
Natural gas customers in Sandwich are served by National Grid, and not every home is on the gas network. If you are unsure of your fuel or your meter, we can sort it out on the visit. For a gas smell, leave and call from outside.
Sources: Town of Sandwich Department of Public Works, Winter Preparation, and the Cape Light Compact.
What Happens During A Boiler Repair Visit
Safety check
We check for gas, fumes and leaks before touching the boiler.
Diagnose
We test controls, ignition, pressure and circulation.
Repair
We replace the failed part or flush and bleed the system.
Test and explain
We run the boiler through a cycle and explain what we found.
Preventing The Next No Heat Call
A boiler checked before winter fails less often. Annual service covers the burner, controls, pressure and the expansion tank. Bleed radiators if they are cold at the top. Keep the area around the boiler clear, and keep carbon monoxide detectors working. If your system is old, ask us what we see and what to expect.
What Drives The Price Of Boiler Repair
What drives the price
You get a clear price before work starts. These are the details that shape it.
Boiler type and fuel
Gas and oil systems have different parts and procedures.
The failed part
A sensor is small. A circulator, valve or control board costs more.
Age and availability
Older boilers may need hard to find parts.
System condition
Scale, sludge and leaks may add a flush or other work.
After hours
Cold night calls are quoted the same way with the price stated first.
Frequently asked questions
Check the thermostat, the boiler switch and the breaker. If it uses oil, check the tank. If none of that helps, call us. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
A small leak, a failed fill valve or air in the system. We find the leak or the faulty part and fix it.
Often trapped air or scale buildup. Bleeding and flushing frequently solve it.
If one part has failed on a sound boiler, repair is sensible. A leaking body or constant repairs usually point to replacement. We give you an honest view.
Tell us what you have when you call and we will confirm what we can service.
Once a year, ideally before the heating season.
Yes. See burst pipe repair for frozen or split pipes.
Still have a question about your situation? The line is open around the clock.
Call (508) 389-4045Standards note: boiler and heating work that touches gas piping must be done by a licensed gas fitter under 248 CMR 10.00. Confirm any license through the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters.