No heat: what to do first
A boiler failure in an Ohio winter can freeze pipes within hours in a cold house. Our dispatch is open 24/7, and while you wait you should check that the thermostat is calling, the boiler has power and the pressure gauge reads in the normal range printed on the unit.
If you smell gas, or the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 first. Do not restart the boiler until a professional has inspected it.
Signs of a boiler problem
Boilers fail in recognizable ways.
- No heat or uneven heat in some rooms
- Banging, kettling or gurgling noises
- Pressure that climbs or drops
- Water around the base of the boiler
- A burner that short-cycles or locks out
- A yellow or irregular flame on a gas boiler
Local winters and frozen pipes
Northeast Ohio winters can drop well below freezing. If the boiler is down for a long stretch, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, let a trickle run at the most exposed faucet, and call us.
If a pipe has already frozen or split, follow the steps on our burst pipe repair page and shut off the main water supply.
Common boiler faults
Our plumbers check these first.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Typical remedy |
|---|---|---|
| No heat at all | Power loss, tripped limit, failed control | Reset or replace the control |
| Heat in some zones only | Stuck zone valve or air in a loop | Replace the valve or bleed the loop |
| Low pressure | Leak or failed expansion tank | Find the leak, replace the tank |
| Banging or kettling | Scale or sediment in the heat exchanger | Flush or descale |
| Pilot or igniter fails | Dirty or failed igniter or sensor | Clean or replace |
How we diagnose a boiler
We follow the sequence the system uses.
- 1
Check controls
We read the thermostat call, limits and safety controls.
- 2
Inspect combustion
On a gas unit we look at the flame, venting and condition of the burner.
- 3
Test the loop
We check pressure, circulation and zone valves.
- 4
Explain and fix
You hear the cause and the repair, and we make the repair if you approve.
When replacement makes sense
A well-maintained boiler can last for decades, but an old unit with a cracked heat exchanger is not worth repairing. We tell you plainly when a repair is a stopgap.
A cracked heat exchanger or a failed combustion test is a safety issue, and we recommend replacement in those cases. For a planned swap, call to schedule a quote.
What affects boiler repair pricing
A clear price comes first.
Insurance rarely pays for boiler repair itself, though sudden freeze damage may be covered. For a number tied to your system, call (855) 575-2890.
What a yearly boiler tune-up covers
A planned visit before the heating season costs far less than a January breakdown. We inspect the burner and heat exchanger, test the safety controls, check the expansion tank and pressure, and look for leaks and corrosion at valves and fittings.
We also test zone valves and the circulator, because those wear out quietly and fail on the coldest night. If the system has a flue or vent, we check that it is intact and clear, and we make sure carbon monoxide alarms are working in the home.
No heat tonight?
Call the 24/7 line and tell us the make and what the boiler is doing.
Boiler rules worth knowing in Ohio
Home boilers are not inspected on a schedule in Ohio, but boilers in many commercial and multifamily buildings fall under state boiler rules set by the Ohio Department of Commerce. If your building is more than a single-family home, ask whether an inspection certificate is due.
Repairs to a gas-fired boiler should follow the manufacturer's instructions and the Ohio Plumbing Code (built on the International Plumbing Code, IPC) and the mechanical code that apply to the job.
Service area
We repair boilers in Barberton, Norton and Copley. For a hot water supply fault instead of a heating fault, see water heater repair.
Boiler Repair questions from Barberton homeowners
Yes. Dispatch is open 24/7. A no-heat call in cold weather is treated as urgent and booked for the next available plumber.
Scale or trapped air is the usual cause. A flush or a bleed often fixes it, but we check pressure and the pump to be sure.
One reset is fine. If it locks out again, something is wrong, and repeated resets can hide a safety issue.
Yearly service is a good habit. It catches small faults before a cold snap.
Call with the make and type, and we will confirm what we can service.
Boiler down? Call (855) 575-2890.