The advantages of a boiler system compared to a standard furnace includes greater efficiency, better control and more even heat throughout a home or business. Boilers are highly durable, making them a great option for heating your home or business, but all heating equipment still requires proper maintenance to keep it running safe and efficiently.

The experienced Comfy Cave technicians are trained to handle any type of boiler repair issue and get your home or business restored to a comfortable temperature as fast as possible. Although boilers are generally very reliable, there are a number of common boiler-related concerns listed below, which may need to be addressed from time to time.

 

Leaking or Dripping

When a leak is coming directly from a boiler tank, the concern is immediate. Leaking can be caused by a variety of things, from compromised heat exchangers, or a leaking relief valve, to a poor solder connection on a pipe.  If the leak is stemming from a pump or pressure relief valve, these components can be repaired. Trust Comfy Cave to determine the source of the leak or drip before the problem becomes serious! 

Boiler Services

Kettling

Loud banging or rumbling coming from your boiler is not normal and is often a sign of surplus minerals in the water supply, also known as “hard water.” Mineral deposits can cause changes in the tank pressure levels that may lead to leaks or other concerns stemming from excessive pressure levels. There are chemicals and flushes that can be used to clean out the boiler and pipes to resolve this issue.

No Heat

There are a number of issues that can create a no heat situation with your radiant system.  Failed zone valves, a broken control wire, failed transformers, gas valves, electronic boards, pressure loss, etc.  No matter what the issue, we can get your system running again or replaced if the system is not worth repairing.

Pilot Issue

Most modern boilers utilize electronic ignition to heat water as needed. The more traditional ignition method is through the use of a pilot light. If the pilot light will not light, you will likely need a technician to diagnose potential ignition system issues. 

Air Lock

Air locking is a common issue with boilers. If a system loses pressure, air can form in the pipes which can cause a sloshing noise, or stop a system from heating a zone entirely in some cases.

Types of Boilers

Comfy Cave services all types of boiler heating systems. Listed below are brief examples of different types of boilers.

  • Cast iron boilers: Most traditional boiler.  The heat exchangers are made of cast iron. They typically have more simplified controls, and will endure the test of time, as long as they are not overfired or run without water.
  • Copper fin tube boilers: These units are very efficient and generally heat quickly. Many are operated off an outdoor thermostat which will help to modulate the internal temperature of the boiler.  They are compact in size and are a very good option for heating a home or domestic water. Light weight
  • Steel fin tube boilers: These boilers have a very rugged design and are still fairly light weight compared to cast iron boilers.  They generally have a simple design and reliable components in them. Their efficiency and reliability are a mix of the copper and cast iron boilers.  Saturn by Allied is a manufacturer of these products.
  • Combi units: These are usually wall-hung boilers with plastic venting.  Combi units can provide both space heating and domestic hot water for showers.  High efficiency. The Lochinvar Noble is an example of a combi unit.
  • High efficiency boilers: These units have a variety of applications, from wall-hung to floor mounted.  They can be used to heat both domestic and space heat, sometimes at different temperatures. They are generally vented in some form of plastic, as the heat has mostly been extracted from the flue gases.  Combustion analysis is imperative for a start-up of a new high efficiency unit. These units are condensing boilers, meaning that water is a by-product of natural gas. There are many uses and applications for high efficiency boilers.  They can be run at lower temperatures than a traditional cast iron unit, for example- with low temperature in-floor heating or staple-up

Types of Radiators

  • Cast iron: Cast iron radiators are usually found in older homes and can be recognized by having multiple compact chambers and pipes coming from either side of them exposed.
  • Baseboard: Baseboards usually are no more than 12 inches high and line the bottom walls of the home.  They expel heat and rely on convection to move warm air through the home. Most common.
  • Radiant: Radiant heating can be achieved with loops of pex or other materials throughout the floors: in concrete or under floors.
  • Panel radiators: These radiators are very common in Europe.  They are generally made of steel and are more compact than cast iron radiators, although have similar installation.

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