When a commercial boiler breaks or doesn’t function correctly, it can cause significant disruption to the facility it’s used to heat. For example, in an office environment, it’s important that members of staff are suitably warm, and the same is true for any building that requires heating and hot water.
Seeking help from a qualified heating engineer is usually the best solution if you discover a fault with your commercial boiler, but if you’re only experiencing minor issues, you may be able to fix it yourself. In this blog, we explain some of the common causes of boiler problems and how to avoid or fix these issues, and we take a closer look more specifically at how to fix a boiler leak.
How to fix a broken boiler
Commercial boilers may experience a range of problems, including the following…
Low system pressure
If your commercial boiler is showing low system pressure, it could lead to complete breakdown. To prevent this from happening, perform regular checks on the pressure gauge, and if you see any significant changes, get help from a qualified engineer.
Poor heat production
Often caused by an interior blockage of debris, a reduction in heat production is unlikely to lead to any catastrophic issues, but it will reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of your boiler. You should arrange to have your boiler regularly cleaned to prevent a build-up of debris from affecting the efficiency of your boiler.
Strange noises
Commercial boilers often make noises, and in many cases this is nothing to worry about. However, if they make a whistling or banging noise, there could be a potentially serious problem. This may be caused by low water pressure or a build-up of limescale. To see what’s behind the issue, you can check that the air intake, exhaust, pressure and piping are all in a good condition. If not, they will need to be replaced.
Unexplained shutdown
Whether your commercial boiler is indicating bizarre water pressure readings, the thermostat is faulty or it’s simply not working properly, the best course of action is to seek the advice of a qualified heating engineer. A number of issues can cause your boiler to shut down, and so it can be difficult to know what the appropriate solution is. As such, it would be advisable to get help from an expert.
How to fix a leaking boiler
A common problem with commercial boilers, leaks can be as minor as a few insignificant drops of water or serious enough to cause severe damage to your system. The important thing is that you identify a leak quickly and find an effective solution to prevent further damage. To do this, you need to regularly check for possible leaks coming from your heating system. For added security, you could even install a sensor that will alert you if the bottom of the boiler contains water.
There are several reasons why your commercial boiler may be leaking. For instance, a build-up of pressure could have led the pressure relief valve to leak water. To fix this problem, you may need to reseal the valve, descale it or bleed the boiler entirely. If the temperature and quality of water coming into the commercial boiler isn’t properly regulated, the issue could be thermal fatigue. If the water coming into the boiler is too cold, thermal shock could lead to cracking in the system. If the water is too hot, cracks could start to appear on the boiler, possibly leading to total failure.
Another potential cause of leaking could be rust or corrosion. In old commercial boilers, this is perfectly natural, and an annual service should show whether the boiler needs to be replaced. However, poor water quality could also be the cause of damage to the inside of the boiler. You should be able to spot this during routine maintenance by observing the condition of pipes and other areas that water passes through.
How to fix a leaking boiler pipe
When a pipe in your commercial boiler system begins to leak, it can cause significant mess and may lead to dangerous repercussions. Even if you need to call for a qualified professional to look over the system or you have to hire a temporary replacement boiler, there are a few tips that can help with preventing the leak from damaging the building it’s in or putting anyone in the vicinity in danger.
As you operator of the commercial boiler, you can fix a leaking pipe by:
- shutting off the water supply
- turning off the boiler
- draining any remaining water from the system
- cleaning up the mess caused by the leak
- identifying the leaking pipe – If it’s simply not fitted properly, you may be able to tighten it into place. If it’s easy to remove, replace it with a pipe of the same size. Or, if it has a clear leak but cannot be removed, coat the leak in waterproof PTFE tape and contact a qualified engineer.
If your commercial boiler is damaged and you need a temporary replacement while it’s repaired or a permanent replacement is fitted, Ideal Heat Solutions provide commercial boiler hire.
