My Steam Boiler Won’t Turn On

Are you having difficulties with your steam boiler?

First, low water cut off controls can be your problem.  Is there enough water in your boiler? The site glass on the side of your boiler will show you the water level.  If the water level is half way up the glass or more than half way, you should be ok.

Another simple solution to your steam boiler problem can be a blocked vent switch by the flue pipe diverter.  Most blocked vent switches can be reset, however what caused your blocked vent switch to trip or open?  You may have blockage in your chimney or sections in the boiler may have soot buildup. On occasion, a strong gust of wind can even cause a vent switch to trip or open.

Another problem (although more difficult to troubleshoot) can be your transformer that provides 24 volts to your feeder.  A simple test with a volt meter can determine this. Put the leads of your volt meter across the terminals of the transformer.  If you read 24 volts or greater, the transformer is ok.

If you have a standing pilot boiler, (which means the pilot light on your pilot assembly stays lit all the time) check and see if your pilot light flame is burning. If not, you may have a defective thermocouple. If you change the thermocouple and that doesn’t work, your gas valve may be defective.

If you have an intermittent park control on your boiler, then this is a little different in its operation. After a call for heat from your thermostat, the voltage still checks the safety controls.  If they are closed, a 24 volt is applied to the ignition control and will spark to ignite the boiler.  If no spark is present, it’s a good possibility that the ignition control module is defective.

Another problem on the ignition control module could be a 24 volt ground problem.  If you were to look at the control, you will see a 24 volt ground terminal.  If you happen to lose your ground, the ignition control module may not spark. Check the ground connections and make sure they are tight and free from dirt or grim or any other obstruction.

If you checked all above mentioned and still cannot get your steam boiler to operate, give Around the Town Heating & Cooling a call at 312-243-9896 or 708-560-5410. Or contact us for a free estimate!