A boiler is a water heater and an entire home’s heating system in one. When the boiler fails your home is left unheated and cold in the middle of winter. There are many problems that can effect a boiler system. Today Absolute P&M Service would like to shine the spotlight on one problem specifically, and that is low pressure. Low pressure in the boiler will interfere with the heating system. Luckily it can be easily repressurized. We will share what you can do when the boiler has low pressure and what needs to be done to repair this problem.

Checking a Boiler for Low Pressure

When your boiler stops making heat there can be many culprits. One of the more common reasons is low pressure. Checking for low pressure cannot be any easier. A boiler will have a pressure gauge you can see. Depending on the type of boiler, the gauge will vary. If you are not familiar with your boiler’s pressure gauge look up the make and model and see how to read the pressure gauge. Most will use a dial with colored sections, or they will have a bar gauge. Once you see how to read your boiler’s pressure gauge, check to see if the pressure is low.

Do I Need to Increase or Reduce Boiler Pressure?

Depending on the boiler make, model, and more importantly the size, the proper pressure levels will vary. However, the proper pressure setting for most boilers is around the 2.75 range. Whether the gauge uses a dial or bar, the pressure setting should be past the two bar or sections and almost to the third section, but not past them. Some gauges will also use color. The color may range from green, to yellow and then red. If the gauge is in the lower green section then the pressure is too low. However, if the gauge is in the red, the pressure is way too high and the boiler is in danger. To know what the proper pressure for you boiler size, make and model is, consider looking it up in your manual, go, online or contact a professional HVAC service.

Reasons Why Boilers Lose Pressure

When a boiler drops pressure it is highly recommended to have an HVAC technician come and repressurize the boiler. You will want to ensure the pressure is correct to prevent further problems. Additionally, the technician will need to determine why the boiler dropped pressure to prevent the boiler from simply dropping pressure again. Pressure can drop for a few different reasons such as:
• Bleeding Radiator: Radiator bleeding is when water is released from the central heating system. This is natural and will occur over time.
• Leaks in the Heating System: Another common cause for low pressure in a boiler is when there is a leak somewhere within the heating system. The leaks can be located somewhere in the piping system, in the radiator, or the boiler tank. Leaks can be due to a burst pipe due to high pressure, or rust has
eaten through the radiator, pipes, or tank. The leak must be located and repaired.

Boiler Preventive Maintenance, Emergency Repairs, Replacement & More in Santa Fe, Tomball, Sugar Land, Galveston, Austin & Greater Houston, Texas

When the boiler pressure is low and needs to be repressurized, contact Absolute P&M Services for boiler, furnace and plumbing services.