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Boiler Repair and Replacement
Boiler Repair and Replacement for Rhode Island Homes
Cold radiators, a puddle under the boiler or a system that bangs and gurgles. Here is what those usually mean and what your options are.
Symptoms
Signs Your Boiler Needs Attention
- Radiators or baseboard stay cold while the boiler runs
- Water on the floor near the boiler, or drips from the relief valve
- Pressure on the gauge keeps dropping and you keep topping it off
- Banging, gurgling or a kettle-like rumble
- The boiler locks out and needs the reset button again and again
- Rust, scale or soot around the boiler or the flue
How It Works
Radiators, Baseboard and Hydronic Heat Explained
Many older Rhode Island homes heat with hot water or steam instead of ducted air.
Hot Water Boilers
The boiler heats water and a pump sends it through pipes to radiators or baseboard. Air trapped in the loop is a common cause of cold spots, and it is usually fixed by bleeding the radiators.
Steam Boilers
Steam rises through the pipes to the radiators and condenses back to water. They rely on the right water level and working radiator vents, so one stuck vent can leave a room cold.
Zones
Many systems split the house into zones, each with its own thermostat and valve or circulator. When only one zone is cold, the problem is often that zone's valve, pump or thermostat rather than the boiler.
Your Options
Repair, Replace or Add a Heat Pump?
Repair is usually right for a failed pump, valve or control on a boiler that is otherwise in good shape.
Replacement is worth pricing when the boiler is old, leaking from the heat exchanger or sections, or needing a repair every season. A new boiler keeps your radiators and baseboard as they are.
The third path is a ductless heat pump. A mini-split can heat and cool a room or a floor without new ductwork, and some homeowners keep the boiler for the coldest days or for the rooms the mini-split does not reach. Whether it fits depends on the house, so we compare the options at the estimate. Programs may help with a heat pump, so check Rhode Island heat pump rebates before you decide.
Before You Call
What to Check Before You Call
A few quick checks can save a visit, and they help us when you do call.
- The thermostat is set to heat and is a few degrees above the room temperature
- The boiler's power switch is on and the breaker has not tripped
- There is fuel: oil in the tank, or gas service on
- The pressure gauge reads in the range on the boiler's label (hot water systems)
- Note any error light or code, and press an oil burner reset button once at most
If you smell gas or oil fumes, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Do not try to relight anything.
Boiler Questions
Why Are My Radiators Cold at the Top?
Trapped air is the usual reason on a hot water system. Bleeding the radiators lets the air out so hot water can fill them. If bleeding does not help, the circulator or a zone valve may be the problem.
Why Does My Boiler Keep Losing Pressure?
A slow leak somewhere in the system, a faulty expansion tank or a relief valve that is weeping can all cause it. Topping it off only hides the cause, so have it traced.
How Long Does a Boiler Last?
ENERGY STAR lists a boiler more than 15 years old as one sign to start comparing replacements. Age is not the only factor. Repair history and condition matter just as much.
Can I Keep My Radiators if I Replace the Boiler?
Usually. A new boiler is typically connected to the existing radiators or baseboard, so the rooms stay as they are. We confirm that at the estimate.
Get a Free Estimate
Tell us what is going on with your system. We will get back to you with next steps.