Boiler repair, routed to a licensed local contractor
Boiler repair help is one call away, 24/7. The call routes to a licensed local contractor in your area. A service call runs $150–$300, most repairs land in the low hundreds, and the diagnostic fee is usually credited toward the work.
Routed contractors service every boiler type — pressure, pumps, zone valves, exchangers.
Gas-side work is licensed only, with a carbon-monoxide check on gas boilers.
You approve the price before any part is replaced — no surprises on the bill.
- STEP 01
Call, no cost
One call routes to a licensed local contractor. Tell them it's the boiler and what it's doing.
- STEP 02
On-site diagnosis
The tech checks the pressure, pilot and gas valve, circulator pump, zone valves, and for leaks.
- STEP 03
Upfront quote
You approve the price before any part is replaced — the diagnostic fee is usually credited into the repair.
- STEP 04
Repaired & tested
The part is replaced, the system is fired and pressure-checked, and you settle with the contractor.
No heat? Start with your ZIP
Enter your ZIP and we'll route your call to a licensed local contractor offering the soonest available slot. Calling is free, 24/7.
Licensed contractors serve . One call routes you to one for .
☏ Call (888) 810-2291Availability is subject to provider participation, location, technician availability, and demand.
Boiler repair pricing, at a glance
A boiler service call runs $150–$300, and most repairs land in the low hundreds; a heat exchanger or major part runs higher. The diagnostic fee is usually credited toward the repair if you proceed.
The boiler problems we route every week
Low pressure is the number-one fault, followed by no heat or hot water, kettling, cold radiators, and leaks. Many start as a quick check you can do yourself; a repeat means the underlying fault needs a technician.
Low pressure
The most common boiler fault. The gauge reads under 1 bar and the system won't fire. Often a small re-pressuring you can do yourself — but a repeat drop means a leak or a failed expansion vessel.
No heat or no hot water
A dead pilot, a failed gas valve, or a control-board fault stops the burner. On a combi boiler, losing hot water but keeping heat (or vice-versa) narrows it fast.
Kettling (rumbling noise)
A rumble like a kettle boiling means limescale or sludge on the heat exchanger, forcing it to overheat. Left alone it shortens the boiler's life.
Cold radiators or uneven zones
One cold radiator usually needs bleeding; whole zones that stay cold point to a failed circulator pump or a stuck zone valve.
Leaks
Water around the boiler points to a failed seal, a corroded pipe, or a pressure-relief valve discharging because pressure ran too high. Never ignore a persistent drip.
Circulator pump failure
The pump that pushes hot water to the radiators. When it seizes, the boiler fires but nothing warms up — a classic no-heat-with-a-running-boiler call.
Pressure-relief valve discharge
Water dripping from the overflow pipe means the safety valve is doing its job because system pressure is too high — the underlying cause needs a technician.
Four checks before you call
Before booking a visit, try the four things you can handle yourself: top up low pressure at the filling loop, bleed a cold radiator, reset the boiler once, and confirm the thermostat and power.
Read the pressure gauge
If it reads under about 1 bar, top up at the filling loop to the boiler's marked range. A one-time drop is normal.
Bleed a cold radiator
One cold radiator with a hot top usually just has trapped air. Bleed it with the radiator key until water runs steady.
Reset once
Press the boiler's reset button a single time. If it locks out again, stop — a repeat lockout is a real fault.
Thermostat & power
Confirm the thermostat is calling for heat and the boiler's power switch and breaker are on.
Pressure that keeps dropping, a repeated lockout, kettling, or a leak all need a licensed technician — and if you smell gas or a CO alarm sounds, leave and call from outside. The boiler types and how to tell them apart are on the boiler guide.
What a boiler repair really costs
A service call runs $150–$300, most repairs land in the low hundreds, and a heat exchanger runs higher. The part that failed is what moves the bill — from a pressure top-up to a seized circulator pump.
A re-pressure, relief valve, or zone valve sits at the low end; a circulator pump or a descaled heat exchanger sits higher. Because boilers last 15 to 35 years, even a mid-life boiler is often worth a significant repair — the long lifespan shifts the repair-or-replace math in the boiler's favour. Broader HVAC ranges are on the HVAC repair cost page.
| Repair | Lower end | Higher end |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure or expansion vessel | $150 | $400 |
| Pressure-relief valve | $150 | $400 |
| Zone valve | $150 | $500 |
| Pilot, gas valve or PCB | $200 | $600 |
| Circulator pump | $300 | $800 |
| Heat exchanger (descale / replace) | $500 | $2,000 |
Broader HVAC cost ranges are on HVAC repair cost, and the diagnostic fee is explained on service-call cost.
No heat in a freeze — or a gas smell?
A dead boiler in a hard freeze risks frozen pipes, and a faulty gas boiler can produce carbon monoxide. If you smell gas or a CO alarm sounds, leave the home and call from outside. Otherwise we route after-hours boiler calls to a local contractor.
What a licensed heating technician does
The difference between a fair repair and an expensive one hides in this checklist. A licensed technician does all six of the following; a parts-swapper tops up the pressure and leaves the leak.
- Licensed and insured for HVAC and gas work in your state
- Traces repeated pressure loss to the leak or expansion vessel — not just a top-up
- Diagnoses circulator and zone-valve faults before condemning the boiler
- Descales the heat exchanger for kettling rather than ignoring it
- Quotes the repair before replacing any part
- Checks for carbon monoxide on gas boilers
Given how long boilers last, run the numbers on repair or replace, or price a new unit on boiler replacement.
Where we route calls
Calls route to licensed local contractors across the United States. Enter a ZIP in the coverage check above and we'll confirm the nearest routed pro; if your exact area isn't matched, the call still connects nationwide.
One call routes you to a licensed local contractor offering the soonest available slot.
(888) 810-2291 ☏ Call nowSame-day and 24/7 emergency services are subject to provider participation, location, technician availability, and demand. Availability is not guaranteed and may vary by market and appointment capacity.
Questions homeowners ask first
How much does boiler repair cost?
A boiler service call typically runs $150–$300, and most repairs fall in the low-hundreds range; a heat exchanger or major part runs higher. The diagnostic fee is usually credited toward the repair if you proceed. Exact cost depends on the fault and your boiler type.
Why does my boiler keep losing pressure?
A one-time drop is normal and you can top it up at the filling loop. Repeated pressure loss means the system is losing water — usually a small leak in the pipework or radiators, or a waterlogged expansion vessel. That underlying cause is the real repair.
Should I get a boiler or a furnace?
They're different heating systems: a boiler heats water for radiators or baseboard, a furnace heats air pushed through ducts. If you already have radiators, a boiler is the natural match. A contractor can compare both for your home.
How long do boilers last?
Boilers are long-lived — typically 15–35 years, longer than a furnace or heat pump. That long life shifts the repair-or-replace math: even a mid-life boiler is often worth a significant repair.
Is a leaking boiler dangerous?
A water leak itself is mainly a damage risk, but never ignore it — the cause can be dangerous pressure. If you smell gas, hear the burner behaving oddly, or a carbon-monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home and call from outside. CO from a faulty boiler is a genuine hazard.
Is it worth repairing an old boiler?
Often yes, given their long lifespan — under about 15 years, most repairs pay off. Past 20–25 years, when efficiency has dropped and parts get scarce, a replacement quote is worth comparing. The same call handles both.