What Is Kettling and How Does It Affect My Boiler?

If you are someone who enjoys a good cup of tea, or live with someone who does, you have likely heard the sound of a tea kettle boiling. Coming from a tea kettle, this is a good thing; coming from your boiler, it isn’t. If you aren’t familiar with what a tea kettle sounds like when it reaches the boiling point, it’s a low rumble, and if you hear this sound coming from your boiler, it is likely that you have a kettling problem. Kettling can be fixed, but requires professional boiler repair. The experts at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning can assist you with any boiler repair issue you may have in New Haven, CT, so call us today!

What Is Kettling?

Boilers are part of a hydronic heating system, meaning they use water to heat your home. Water often contains minerals in it, especially areas that have hard water (water that hasn’t been softened with chemicals). Over time, water can leave deposits of calcium salts (lime) in your boiler’s heat exchanger. These salts are insoluble, so if they are allowed to build, they will eventually restrict the water. The term “kettling” refers to the action that happens when too many deposits are inside the heat exchanger: the water flow is restricted and as such, becomes trapped in the heat exchanger; it then becomes too hot and starts to steam, boil and expand, which is when you’ll hear the low rumble of the water kettling.

How Does Kettling Affect a Boiler?

There are a few ways kettling can affect your boiler, but one thing it does not do is cause your boiler to explode. Boilers, like all other heating systems, are equipped with multiple safety devices and mechanisms to ensure the safety of you, your home, your family and your system. Some of the problems kettling can cause are:

• Inadequate heating – kettling reduces the ability of your boiler to correctly distribute the hot water needed to heat your home.
• Replacement of heat exchanger – the pressure created by the kettling may result in the replacement of your heat exchanger.
• More stress on the system – kettling can put a great deal of stress on your entire heating system, resulting in further malfunction and possible breakdown.

If you suspect your boiler may have a kettling problem, don’t wait to call for repair in New Haven, CT – contact the experts at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning today!