Noise diagnosis
Noisy or kettling boiler — repair across Somerset
Kettling is boiling in the heat exchanger — usually caused by scale (Bath is hard-water country) or restricted flow from sludge. Banging is often air. Whining is a tired pump bearing. Same symptoms, different fixes.
For: Homeowners hearing new noises from an existing boiler
Why boilers scale in Bath and Radstock
Water hardness across BA and BS postcodes is high enough that any DHW plate exchanger picks up scale over time. Combined with old-system sludge from a poorly protected primary, kettling is almost inevitable without a filter and periodic flushing.
Included in a noisy-boiler visit
- Sound signature identified (kettling / banging / whining)
- Heat-exchanger descale via chemical or physical means
- Pump vibration and bearing tested
- Auto air-vent bled and PRV rechecked
- Inhibitor topped up and filter cleaned
Frequently asked
- Is a kettling boiler dangerous?
- Not immediately, but it accelerates heat-exchanger fatigue and can crack cast components over time. Fix sooner rather than later.
- Will a descale fix it permanently?
- For 12–24 months typically. To prevent recurrence you need an inline scale reducer on the mains and a magnetic filter on the return.
- Is it worth repairing an older boiler?
- If it's under 8 years old and out of warranty, yes. Over 12 years old with kettling, we'd cost a swap alongside.
Book the diagnosis
Describe the noise — sizzling, banging, whining — and we'll come with the right kit to fix it on the first visit.
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