Boiler heating systems are usually small, compact, low maintenance, and energy efficient.

Troubleshooting Boiler Heating Systems

If you have a gas furnace powering your baseboard hot water heating system and you smell gas:

Do not try to fix it yourself. Open windows and get out of the house. Take children and pets with you. Do not turn on lights or switches. Call the gas company from a neighbor's house or a cell phone outside the house. Do not return to the house until a professional has examined your home.

If there's no heat coming from your furnace, check the following possibilities:

If you have a gas furnace, check the pilot light to make sure it's lit. Check to see if the water level and water pressure in the boiler is low. Check your fuse box to see if any circuit breakers are flipped the wrong way or to make sure a fuse hasn't blown. Reset the circuit breaker or change the fuse if need be. If you have an electronic burner ignition system, check to make sure the ignition switch is working. Check the thermostat to make sure it is on and is set for at least three degrees hotter than the registered room temperature. If all these steps don't work, call a professional HVAC technician for a service check.

If the problem is not enough heat is being produced (but some heat is evident)try the following:

Check the water level and water pressure of the boiler to see if it is low. Check the heating registers - make sure they are open and nothing is obstructing them. Have a technician check to see if there are mineral deposits building up in the bottom of the boiler. He or she can flush the system. Check the expansion tank to see if it has too much water in it and not enough air. The pressure relief valve on the boiler will be spurting water if this is the case. You should also see a high pressure reading (over 20 psi) on the pressure gauge. It is advisable to have a professional HVAC technician handle these kinds of checks.

If there is water leaking around the bottom of the boiler:

The pump may be broken. The pressure gauge may be compromised. There may be a leak in the piping. All of these problems warrant a visit from a professional HVAC technician.

If the pipes are suddenly very noisy:

Check for water trapped in the return lines. If the pipes are not angled right, water can get trapped in the lines. Try adjusting the angling of the lines or call a technician to fix it for you. Check the circulator to see if the spring-loaded coupling that connects the motor to the pump isn't broken or jammed.

If you are using a radiant heat system to distribute the heat, consider the following:

Have you changed the flooring recently? If so, you may have to increase the temperature setting to accommodate. However, make sure the water temperature never exceeds 85 degrees (or the limit the manufacturer designates.) The other problem could be the circulator, but you'll need a technician to come check to see if the circulator is moving enough water. If the circulator is undersized or is not moving enough water, the temperature drop through the system will be too much, and you won't get enough heat coming through the flooring. A professional will most likely also check the outdoor reset controls to check the heating curve.

If you are using a baseboard or radiator hot water heating system, see our article specific to this system for troubleshooting suggestions.