No heat on a freezing night: what counts as an emergency
The Hartford area's normal January low is 18.8 F and the normal high is 35.3 F, based on 1991 to 2020 NOAA readings at Bradley Airport, about 20 miles northeast of Farmington. At those temperatures a house with no heat loses its margin fast, and pipes along outside walls are the first to suffer.
A boiler leaking steadily, a boiler that smells of fuel, or any boiler shutdown with children, elders or frozen pipes at stake belongs in the urgent column. Our after-hours crew takes these calls any night.
Safe checks before the plumber arrives
These are things a homeowner can look at without opening the boiler.
- Thermostat and switch. Confirm the thermostat is set to heat and the emergency switch near the stairs is on.
- Fuel. On oil, check the tank gauge. On gas, check that other gas appliances work.
- Reset once. Press the burner reset a single time if the manual allows. Repeated resets can flood the chamber.
- Water on the floor. Close the feed valve to the boiler and place a bucket. Keep clear of anything wet and electrical.
- Alarms. Test your carbon monoxide detector. If it sounds, go outside and call 911.
Oil or gas: how each type fails
Oil boiler
A clogged nozzle, a dirty filter, a weak ignition transformer or a failed cad cell stops the burner. Soot or a puff of smoke at start-up means a combustion tune-up is due.
Gas boiler
A bad igniter, a dirty flame sensor, a blocked condensate trap or a pressure switch fault locks the boiler out. Venting problems also trip safety controls.
Circulator pump
A pump that hums but does not move water leaves radiators cold while the burner still fires. Air in the loop does the same.
Expansion tank and relief valve
A waterlogged tank makes pressure swing, and the relief valve may dribble. Pressure that keeps falling points to a hidden leak.
Census Bureau estimates for 2020 to 2024 show 40.6 percent of Farmington households heat with fuel oil, 36.2 percent with utility gas, 15.3 percent with electricity and 6.0 percent with bottled gas. Oil is the most common heating fuel in Farmington, so oil burner trouble is a common reason for a boiler call. Connecticut also states that boilers and water heaters are governed by regulations adopted under chapter 540 of its General Statutes.
Pressure, leaks and noises: reading the signs
| What you see or hear | Possible cause | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure gauge drops over days | Small leak in piping, a fitting or a radiator valve | Call soon, before the system runs dry |
| Pressure spikes, valve drips | Failed expansion tank or overfilled system | Call within a day |
| Banging or kettle noise | Scale or sludge in a heat exchanger, or air | Book a service visit |
| Radiators cold at the top | Trapped air, needs bleeding | Often simple |
| Water pooling under the boiler | Leaking tank, joint or relief valve | Treat as urgent |
| Rotten-egg smell | Gas leak | Leave and call the gas utility or 911 |
The rules behind boiler work
Connecticut's 2022 State Building Code adopts the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), and the state adds that boilers and water heaters are also governed by regulations adopted under Chapter 540 of the General Statutes. In practice that means a boiler swap or major repair can involve more than the plumbing code, so ask the Farmington Building Department at 860-675-2315 what your job needs.
What to do if the boiler is leaking or the house has no heat
- Shut the boiler's power switch at the unit or the breaker if water is dripping onto the burner or controls.
- Close the water feed valve to the boiler so it stops refilling and leaking.
- Keep people and pets away from standing water near electrical parts.
- Do not relight a gas boiler that smells of gas. Leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 first.
- Open cabinet doors and keep faucets trickling on exterior walls if pipes risk freezing, then call the 24/7 line.
House cold, boiler silent?
Call the 24/7 line, give your fuel type and the boiler's brand, and ask for a same-day appointment.
Frozen pipes after a boiler goes down
Thaw slowly and shut the water first
If a pipe is frozen but not split, open the nearest faucet and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer. Never use a torch or open flame. If a pipe has split, close the main water valve and see burst pipe repair.
Cold-weather risk is highest along exterior walls, in crawlspaces and in unheated garages. Keep cabinet doors open and let a faucet drip while the boiler is down.
Repair, or time for a new boiler?
Usually worth repairing
- Parts like igniters, nozzles, pumps and gauges
- A leak at a single valve or fitting
- A boiler that otherwise runs evenly and quietly
- Problems that follow a missed annual service
Usually time to talk replacement
- A cracked heat exchanger or a leaking boiler block
- Repeated repairs in a single season
- Heavy rust, sludge that will not clear or a failed combustion test
- A house that has outgrown its heat output
If a failed boiler also feeds your hot water, you may need water heater repair once heat returns. For a house near the line, our West Hartford page covers calls on that side.
What shapes a boiler repair quote
A cold house is stressful, but a clear price should come first. These are the factors we weigh.