If you have a boiler, you probably know that it has pressure gauges measuring the internal pressure at all times. While low pressure can have a negative impact on operation, high pressure inside of a boiler is an even bigger concern. Too much pressure building up inside of a boiler can lead to an explosion.
While it is rare for this to happen, it’s still a possibility. If you have a boiler in your home with gauges that are consistently showing high-pressure readings, you need to give our team a call to schedule an appointment for a boiler repair. Keep reading to learn more about factors that can cause pressure increases for your boiler and what you can do to help your boiler stay within a healthy pressure range.
Watch for Overheating
Overheating is a common reason for boiler explosions. Preventing a boiler explosion can be as easy as making sure that your boiler does not overheat during operation. Signs that your boiler is overheating include water discoloration, water that smells bad, or unusual sounds coming from your boiler. For example, the water in your boiler may begin to smell like rotten eggs. Or you may hear a pinging sound as a part of the operation. None of these things are considered normal and require immediate attention.
Monitor Pressure Gauges
You can also monitor the pressure gauges on your boiler. There will be indicators that show how high the pressure is inside the boiler system. Your boiler does need to have strong pressure to function the way it was designed for heating.
But there is such a thing as too much pressure. If the pressure readings on your boiler are too high, you can turn down the pressure settings so that your boiler functions at a lower pressure. If this doesn’t help, we encourage you to schedule service to check out the problem. Something is going wrong inside of your boiler that is impacting its ability to function within the normal pressure levels.
What to Do if Your Boiler is Overheating
If your boiler is overheating or the pressure is consistently too high, you need to schedule service. But before you do that, it is important to take steps to prevent a boiler explosion from happening in the meantime. You can turn off the gas supply to your boiler or turn your boiler off completely. We know that this can be an inconvenience, especially when temperatures are very cold outside.
But it is better to be safe than to risk a boiler explosion when you don’t know what is going wrong. If the pressure stays too high inside of your boiler and an explosion does happen, it may damage your boiler beyond repair. If that happens, we will need to replace your entire boiler instead of just being able to make some repairs to the system.
Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted resource for Chicagoland area home services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for boiler service!