Our Team is Growing! Check out our current openings here Read More

Skip navigation

Serving the Charlottesville Area

434-979-7129

Menu

Mack Morris Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

Why Kettling Is Bad News

Boilers are powerful heaters for homes around here. Using the power of heated water cycled through pipes in the home, a boiler can help to provide radiant heat on the coldest of days. That is, it can do this as long as it is working properly. If there is a problem that is hindering your boiler’s ability to do its job, it’s going to affect your home comfort. It’s also going to affect your energy bills in the long run. This is why it is important to know when to contact a professional for a boiler repair in Afton, VA.

Our team works hard to provide prompt and effective repair services to homes throughout the area. However, to do this we need you to contact us and let us know there is a problem we can help with. With that in mind, we want to tell you about one of the most common signs a boiler needs repairs: kettling.

What Is Kettling?

You might be saying to yourself, “Wait kettling? As in like my tea kettle? What’s wrong with that?”  We are happy to explain.

A high-pitched whistle coming from your teakettle when the water within it is starting to heat up or boil is completely normal and expected. Where you don’t want to hear this sound is coming from your boiler heater. Kettling from a boiler is a sign of a problem that will only get worse the longer it is allowed to go unaddressed.

Your boiler is meant to operate without making much noise. So when it starts to create that high-pitched whistle that we refer to as kettling, it should be a cause for concern and encourage you to reach out for professional repairs.

What Kettling Is a Warning Of

Most water has a certain level of minerals and sediment in it. These won’t harm you, but they do have the ability to cause problems for your home systems. Over the years that those minerals and sediment can end up settling within your boiler tank. As the sediment collects it makes it harder for the water within your system to heat up. When the water does heat up it can be captured in spaces within the sediment where it will turn into steam and create that distinct whistling. This is an issue that can hinder your home comfort and will increase the amount of energy your boiler uses—leading to higher bills for you.

If you start to hear kettling from your boiler heater, it means that your system needs to be flushed to clear out any buildup of sediment in it. The sooner you get this done the better your home comfort will be and the longer your system is likely to last. This can save you time and money in the long run, not to mention that it will keep you warmer too.

Come to the team at Mack Morris Heating & Air Conditioning for your heating system repairs. We can’t control the weather outside of your home, but we can control the weather inside your home. Schedule an appointment today.

Comments are closed.