No Heat or Cold Radiators
Boiler not firing or some rooms cold? The common causes of hot water heating problems.
Reviewed by Micky Cipolla, NJ Master Plumber #13478
When a boiler stops or rooms stay cold, you want heat back fast. Most hot water heating problems come down to a handful of causes.
Common causes
- Boiler lockout. Ignition, flame sensor or fuel problems make the boiler shut itself down.
- Air in the system. Trapped air stops hot water from reaching radiators and baseboard.
- Failed circulator or zone valve. One cold zone often means a bad pump or valve.
- Low system pressure. Too little water in the system means poor heat and noise.
- Thermostat or control issues. Sometimes the boiler is fine and the controls are not.
What you can check first
- Check the thermostat settings and batteries
- Make sure the boiler switch and breaker are on
- Look for a reset button or error code, but do not keep resetting
- Check the pressure gauge on the boiler
When to call a plumber
- The house is getting cold
- The boiler keeps locking out
- You hear banging, kettling or see water leaking
How we fix it
Hydronic heat is our specialty. We diagnose the whole system, from the boiler to the zones, and fix the real cause. If the boiler is at the end of its life, we lay out replacement options, including combi boilers and oil to gas conversions.
Boiler Repair & Replacement Radiant & Hydronic Heating Oil to Gas Conversions
No Heat or Cold Radiators FAQ
Why is only one room cold?
Usually air, a zone valve or a circulator on that zone.
Can you fix a system others could not?
Often, yes. Complex hydronic systems are our specialty.
"Had an emergency job when my boiler stopped working. Mickey did a phenomenal job getting my new boiler in with ease!"
Mike L.Google review