Boiler Making a Kettling Noise
A rumbling or boiling-kettle sound from the boiler, usually worse as it reaches temperature..
A rumbling or boiling-kettle sound from the boiler, usually worse as it reaches temperature.
What is actually going on
A rumbling or boiling-kettle sound from the boiler, usually worse as it reaches temperature.
The realistic causes, in order
Scale on the primary heat exchanger causing localised boiling, common in hard-water areas Reduced flow through the exchanger from sludge or a slow pump A flow temperature set unnecessarily high, pushing the exchanger towards boiling point
What we test on site
Flow and return differential under a controlled load Water quality including hardness and iron content Pump speed and any bypass arrangement
Safe checks to make with kettling in the boiler
- Note whether the noise appears within a minute or only after long running
- Check whether the flow temperature has been set to maximum
- Kettling stresses the heat exchanger. Left long enough it becomes a heat exchanger replacement rather than a clean.
Who does the work
- Gas Safe registered engineers — registration 554328
- Worcester Bosch accredited installer
- John The Plumb Ltd, company registration 10026483
Get kettling in the boiler diagnosed properly
Descaling or flushing plus a corrected flow temperature normally silences it and improves efficiency.
Questions we get asked
What causes kettling in the boiler on a gas boiler?
Scale on the primary heat exchanger causing localised boiling, common in hard-water areas
What normally puts kettling in the boiler right?
Descaling or flushing plus a corrected flow temperature normally silences it and improves efficiency.
Is it safe to keep using the system with kettling in the boiler?
Kettling stresses the heat exchanger. Left long enough it becomes a heat exchanger replacement rather than a clean.