Common Water Distribution Problems and Solutions
- No heat
- No heat, motor housing hot
- Gurgling sound in pipes or radiator
- Burner does not turn of
- Heat uneven throughout the house
- Radiator is cold, hammering noise in pipes
- Not enough heat, convector is lukewarm
- Not enough heat, radiators are lukewarm (water pressure is low)
- Radiators are lukewarm (water pressure exceeds 30 psi soon after burner turns on and safety valve discharges)
- Radiators above boiler are lukewarm, others are cold
- Circulator motor noisy
- System sounds like chain being dragged through it
- Water spills from safety valve Discharge pipe
- Circulator pump leaks
- Inlet valve leaks
- Bleed valve drips constantly or will not turn
No heat
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| No power to system | Replace fuse or reset breaker |
| Aquastat faulty | Test aquastats and have them replaced if necessary |
| Air trapped in radiators or convectors | Bleed radiator and covectors If frequent bleeding is required, install automatic bleed valves |
| Coupler broken | Call for service to have coupler replaced |
| Circulator pump faulty | Call for service |
No heat, motor housing hot
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Circulator motor burned out | Call for service |
Gurgling sound in pipes or radiator
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Air trapped in radiatior | Bleed radiator If frequent bleeding is required, install automatic bleed valves |
Burner does not turn off
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Burner aquastat faulty | Test aquastat and have it replaced if necessary |
Heat uneven throughout the house
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Air trapped in radiators or convectors | Bleed radiator and covectors If frequent bleeding is required, install automatic bleed valves |
| Coupler broken | Call for service to have coupler replaced |
| Circulator pump faulty | Call for service |
| Pressure reducing valve set too low | Call for service |
Radiator is cold, hammering noise in pipes
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Sagging floor makes radiator slope, trapping cold water or air pockets in the radiator | Level sloping radiator with shims, raising the leg below the bleed valve. |
Not enough heat, convector is lukewarm
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Convector fins dirty or bent | Vacuum convector fins and straighten them with broad-nose pliers |
| Air trapped in convector | Bleed convectors If frequent bleeding is required, install automatic bleed valves |
| Circulator pump faulty | Call for service |
Not enough heat, radiators are lukewarm (water pressure is low)
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Pressure gauge set too low | Call for service |
| Pipes leaking | Tighten pipe joints with a wrench Call for service |
| Pressure reducing valve faulty | Call for service |
| Rust deposits in boiler or pipes | Drain and refill boiler system, adding rust inhibitor |
| Circulator pump faulty | Call for service |
Radiators are lukewarm (water pressure exceeds 30 psi soon after burner turns on and safety valve discharges)
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Old-style expansion tank waterlogged or leaking | Recharge expansion tank Call for service if leaking |
| Diaphragm-type expansion tank waterlogged or leaking | Replace expansion tank |
Radiators above are boiler lukewarm, others are cold
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Pump aquastat faulty | Test aquastat and have it replaced if necessary |
| Circulator pump or motor | Call for service |
Circulator motor noisy
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Motor and pump not properly maintained | Pry open port caps and lubricate with not-detergent SAE-30 motor oil |
System sounds like chain being dragged through it
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Coupler broken | Call for service to have coupler replaced |
Water spills from safety valve Discharge pipe
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Old-style expansion tank waterlogged or leaking | Recharge expansion tank Call for service if leaking |
| Diaphragm-type expansion tank waterlogged or leaking | Replace expansion tank |
Circulator pump leaks
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Pump seal or impeller broken | Call for service |
Inlet valve leaks
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Valve packing deteriorated | Replace valve packing |
Bleed valve drips constantly or will not turn
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Bleed valve faulty | Replace valve |
