If your boiler suddenly starts making rumbling noises, you may wonder what's going on. You may even wonder if your boiler is unsafe to operate. Several things can cause your boiler to make odd noises, and one of the most common is a buildup of hard water deposits. Here's a look at why this happens and the boiler repairs that can help.
Why Hard Water Causes A Noisy Boiler
Hard water contains a higher amount of minerals than soft water. The hardness of water varies among different geographic areas, so your home might have hard water even though you have city water. The problem with hard water is that the minerals can settle and leave behind a scaly residue. As the residue builds over time, it can cause problems with your boiler as well as any appliance that uses water.
In the case of a boiler, the mineral buildup can trap water in the heat exchanger and cause the water to get so hot that it boils. The steam that's produced can make a rumbling or banging noise. This is a potentially serious problem with a boiler, but boilers usually have safety mechanisms that release pressure or shut down the boiler if the boiler becomes unsafe.
Boiler Repair Requires A Professional
Boilers are dangerous appliances to work with, so it's best to call a boiler repair company to take a look at the problem and then fix it. The first step is to determine if the cause is mineral scale buildup.
Other things can cause your boiler to make odd noises such as a malfunction that makes the water get too hot or a pump going bad. The repair technician troubleshoots the appliance to verify the problem is scale buildup and then can determine the right way to proceed.
The Solution Is To Clean The Boiler
If the only problem with the boiler is a buildup of mineral scale, the repair technician has to clean the boiler to get rid of the scale and eliminate the problem. The method of cleaning depends on the type of boiler you have, but the technician will probably use some sort of cleaning solution that dissolves the mineral scale. This works in the same way you use vinegar to get rid of hard water scale on a glass coffee pot.
The odd noises made from mineral scale is called kettling. Kettling is not always a serious threat when the noise first starts, but it's a sign that something is wrong with the boiler. If pressure rises and the relief valve doesn't work properly, a pipe could rupture and cause extensive water damage to your home. For that reason, you should take new and unusual noises seriously and call a boiler repair company right away to diagnose and fix the problem.
Reach out to a local boiler repair service today for more information.
