A good boiler is critical for keeping your Utah home cozy when the winter chill hits. When your boiler breaks down, it can be extremely problematic because you will be stuck paying for emergency repair bills. It can also be dangerous, especially when temperatures are below freezing, because it can compromise your plumbing as well as the health and safety of your family. To ensure that your boiler stays in top shape, you must understand the common problems that can arise and how to handle them.
Water
It’s critical for you to understand that the biggest culprit behind most boiler issues, especially in areas like Salt Lake City and Provo, is the quality of the water. The water here is very hard, which means that it is full of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. As the minerals build up in the system, it can cause it to malfunction.
Corrosion and Scale
The hard water flowing through your boiler causes two issues that lead directly to leaks. Mineral deposits build up inside the heat exchanger, creating what experts call scale. This scale is like plaque in your pipes. When enough of it builds up, this can make the boiler work much harder to heat the water. This extra effort causes stress on the system, which will eventually cause weak spots that lead to leaks.
Since the metal parts of the boiler are constantly exposed to water, especially when oxygen is present, this can lead to corrosion or rust. Over time, the metal parts of the boiler become weak and thin. And eventually, the pressure inside the boiler forces water through those rusted areas, and a leak results.
Problems With Pressure and Joints
Sometimes, there is a leak because a part fails. You must pay close attention to the pressure relief valve, which is a safety device that releases excess pressure from the boiler to keep it from exploding and causing major destruction. Water leaking from the valve spells some serious trouble.
Furthermore, the joints and seals that connect the various pipes to the boiler often dry out or wear down over years of use. This wear and tear causes a slow drip that can easily be overlooked until it has caused considerable damage to the floor or wall around the system. When this happens, you are looking at thousands of dollars in repairs. If you need mold remediation, you will pay even more. A loose connection, which is a compound issue, is inexpensive to fix if you catch it early. However, it becomes a disaster if the leak continues for a long time.
The Best Way to Prevent Boiler Leaks
The most effective way to keep your boiler from leaking is to give your system regular care. You need to schedule annual maintenance with a heating technician. During this service call, the technician will clean the system thoroughly and make sure everything is functioning properly. If they find problems, they will work with you to develop a plan to fix them.
If you have not yet scheduled your inspection, now is the time as you do not want to wait for the weather to get too cold. To make certain that your boiler will protect you from the chilly weather in Salt Lake City, UT, call Whipple Plumbing.
