Should I Turn Off My Boiler if it’s Leaking Water?

gas-boiler

Modern boilers are exceptionally engineered and able to withstand around 15 years of use on average, but they aren’t invincible. If your boiler is leaking water, it’s a cause for concern.

To answer the question of whether or not a boiler leaking water needs to be shut off, let’s establish that your boiler should not be leaking water. It will need to be turned off, but by a technician, not you. Let’s explain why.

It’s Best to Have a Technician Shut Off Your Boiler

Boilers tend to leak for a few reasons. Chief among them are failing parts that lead to leaks, such as valves or O-rings that just can’t retain a watertight seal anymore.

It’s not a common occurrence, but your boiler could be leaking due to excess internal pressure. When pressure builds, the expanse finds the weakest point in the tank and water begins leaking from it in an effort to alleviate pressure.

For this reason, even if you don’t believe your boiler is leaking due to immense pressure, it’s best to have a technician turn off the tank. So yes, your boiler should be shut off if it’s leaking water, but not necessarily by you.

Proceed With Caution

While it’s not likely for boilers to explode, it’s not off the table. Below we’ll recommend some ways that you can mitigate water damage from harming your home and belongings, but even so, you need to be careful.

When we talk about boilers exploding, we mean from pressure inside the tank. However, if you detect the smell of rotten eggs near your boiler, that’s a sign of a gas leak. This requires an immediate emergency call because there is an additional risk of your boiler exploding.

Do What You Can to Prevent Water Damage

A leaking boiler can cause serious damage to your home if left unchecked. If repairs have a delay of a few hours and there’s sufficient water leaking from your boiler, you have to mitigate damage to the best of your ability.

  • Place towels around the area where the leak is spreading to minimize the surface area of your floor that’s impacted.
  • Remove objects close to the boiler to prevent water damage to your belongings.
  • Use a wet vac to clear up excess water surrounding the boiler.

We recommend calling a technician any time you see water leaking from your boiler and strongly advise not turning it off on your own. Professional technicians are trained to handle these issues with safety protocols and experience in mind. Do not put yourself at risk for any reason.

Stop the Leak as Soon as Possible

Whether it’s a leaking valve or a full-on stream of water coming out of your boiler, it needs to be handled as soon as possible. If your boiler is leaking beyond a few droplets here and there, you should consider using an emergency service call to deal with the issue before it becomes a larger problem and causes damage to your home.

Contact HB Energy Solutions for all your energy needs. HB Energy Solutions delivers peace of mind. 

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