Gas smell or carbon monoxide: do this first
A boiler burns fuel, so a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm is not a plumbing inconvenience. It is a reason to leave. Walk everyone, including pets, out of the building. Do not switch lights on or off, use lighters or try to find the source.
From outside, call the Nicor Gas emergency line or 911. Wait for the gas company or the fire department to say the home is safe. Then call (630) 822-9290 and we will look at the boiler. We never ask you to repair a gas boiler, a vent or a gas line yourself. Call (630) 822-9290
A leaking boiler
Water around a boiler is one of the more common problems. It can come from a loose fitting, a weeping valve, a failed circulator seal, a cracked heat exchanger or a pressure relief valve that is discharging. Some of these are minor repairs, while a leak from the boiler body is a bigger issue.
Turn off the boiler at its switch and, if you can reach it, close the water feed to the unit. Keep the area dry and away from electrical equipment. Take a photo of where the water appears and the pressure gauge. That tells us a lot before we arrive.
A leak that seems to come from the boiler but is really a pipe nearby is common too. When the source is unclear, our leak detection service can trace it. A burst or frozen pipe in the heating loop may call for burst pipe repair. Call (630) 822-9290
Pressure problems
A hot water boiler runs at a set pressure, shown on a gauge on the unit. If the gauge drops, there may be a leak somewhere in the system. If it climbs too high, the relief valve may open, which can mean a failed expansion tank or an overfeeding fill valve.
Do not keep topping up a system that is losing pressure without finding out why. Fresh water brings in new oxygen and minerals, which speeds up corrosion inside the boiler and pipes. We find the cause first, and then fix it.
No heat, or uneven heat
When the house is cold, a boiler may not be firing, or it may be firing while the heat is not getting where it should. A tripped safety control, a failed circulator, a bad zone valve or a stuck thermostat can each leave you cold. Air trapped in the radiators or baseboards is another frequent cause.
| What you notice | Likely cause | Who should handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Boiler will not start | Safety lockout, thermostat or power | Call us |
| Radiator cold at the top | Trapped air | Bleed per manufacturer, or call |
| One zone cold | Zone valve or circulator | Call us |
| Gauge keeps dropping | Leak or fill valve | Call us |
| Gas smell | Gas leak | Leave, call Nicor or 911 |
| Banging or kettle sounds | Scale or low water flow | Call us |
Simple checks are fine if you can do them safely, such as making sure the thermostat is calling for heat and the switch is on. Anything involving gas, the flue, the burner or the electrical connections should be left to a licensed professional.
Noises, smells and short cycling
Kettle-like rumbling, banging and gurgling usually point to scale, sediment or air in the system. A boiler that starts, runs a minute and shuts off is short cycling, which wears parts out quickly. A burning or musty smell deserves a check as well, because it can point to a vent or burner problem.
Do not ignore soot around the boiler, a yellow or lazy flame, or a carbon monoxide alarm. Those are warning signs that combustion is not clean. Shut the boiler off if you can do so safely and call us. (630) 822-9290
Boilers and hot water in Hoffman Estates
Winters here are cold, and the Village's building code sets the frost line depth at 42 inches. In practice, that means supply lines, exterior hose bibs and any pipe in an unheated space can freeze if heat fails while you are away. The Village's public works guidance is to keep your thermostat at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when you are gone.
If a boiler fails during a cold snap, take the frozen pipe risk seriously. Open cabinet doors on exterior walls and keep the water moving slightly in exposed lines. Call early, because a no-heat problem is easier to fix before a pipe bursts. Our 24/7 line answers all hours.
Some homes have a boiler that also heats domestic hot water. If yours does, a failure may leave you without heat and without hot showers. If you also have a tank, our water heater repair page covers that side.
What a service visit includes
We start by asking questions about the age, the fuel, the symptoms and what changed. On site, we check pressure, the water level or feed, the circulator, the zone valves, the expansion tank and the relief valve. We look at the burner and vent only as far as our license and the situation allow, and tell you clearly when a manufacturer or specialist is the right call. Call (630) 822-9290
If a part has failed, we explain the cost and wait for your approval. If the boiler is at the end of its life, we say so plainly and go over options. We would rather you know early than pay for several repairs on a unit that will not last.
Boiler work is judged against the manufacturer's installation instructions, which are the standard for clearances, vent connections and pressure settings. That is why we match a replacement part to what the maker specifies and not to whatever fits, and why gas supply problems go to Nicor Gas first.
What changes the price
We give you a price by phone before work starts, using what you tell us about the symptoms and the unit. If the visit uncovers more, we explain it first and wait for your decision. (630) 822-9290
Boiler repair questions
Switch the boiler off, close the water feed if you can reach it, and keep the area dry. Then call us. If you smell gas, leave and call Nicor Gas or 911.
There may be a leak in the system or a problem with the fill valve. Adding water repeatedly without finding the cause is not a fix.
Scale, sediment or air in the system is the usual reason. Call us so we can check before it gets worse.
Check the thermostat and the switch, then call us. Keep cabinet doors open on exterior walls and watch for frozen pipes.
We can look at it. If the issue is the domestic hot water side, our water heater repair page may also apply.
We service plumbing-side boiler problems. Gas, flue and burner work needs a licensed professional, and we will tell you when a specialist is the right call.
It depends on the work. Replacements and gas or flue changes often need one. Ask us on the call and we can point you to the Village's Code Enforcement office.
A steady leak or a gas or carbon monoxide warning is. Shut the boiler off, keep clear of electrical equipment and call (630) 822-9290.
Boiler trouble is easier to deal with when you describe it plainly. Call (630) 822-9290 and tell us what you see, hear and smell.