Real Metro HVAC service call in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania: A homeowner reported no heat, boiler pressure climbing too high, and water on the floor. Our technician inspected the hydronic heating system and identified a failed expansion tank. During that same evaluation, we also found a Taco circulator pump with visible rust and deterioration. This article explains what we found and the repairs scheduled for a return visit.
What the homeowner noticed
The call began with three symptoms: the home had no heat, water was visible on the floor near the boiler, and the system was experiencing excessive pressure. Those signs called for a diagnosis of the boiler’s water-pressure controls and related hydronic components, rather than automatically recommending a complete boiler replacement.
Finding #1: The expansion tank had failed
Hot water expands as it heats. In a closed-loop hydronic boiler system, the expansion tank is designed to accommodate that increase in volume so system pressure can stay within its intended operating range. When the tank cannot perform that function, pressure may climb as the water heats. Our on-site diagnosis identified a failed expansion tank as a problem that needed correction.
Water on the floor can have more than one source, including a discharge from a pressure-relief valve or a separate leak. The source of water should be verified as part of the repair and recommissioning process; a failed expansion tank alone does not prove which component released the water.
Finding #2: The Taco circulator showed visible deterioration
While assessing the boiler, we also noticed rust developing on the existing Taco circulator pump. A circulator moves heated water through the home’s hydronic distribution system. Rust does not, by itself, establish why the home lost heat or prove that a pump has stopped circulating, but deterioration is worth addressing before it turns into a more disruptive problem.
Our planned repair includes replacing the deteriorating pump with a new Taco 007 circulator, with the final installation and suitability confirmed for the existing system.
What Metro HVAC is scheduled to repair
- Replace the failed expansion tank and install it in the correct position and configuration for the boiler system.
- Install a dedicated expansion-tank isolation valve so the tank can be serviced or replaced in the future without having to drain down the entire system, subject to the installed piping arrangement.
- Replace the rusting circulator with a new Taco 007 pump.
- After installation, verify system operation: check the expansion tank’s charge and sizing, cold-fill and operating pressures, isolation-valve arrangement, air removal, leakage, and circulation before leaving the boiler in service.
Project status: These components were diagnosed during the no-heat visit. The replacement work is scheduled for a follow-up appointment; we will update this article when the installation and performance checks are completed.
Why the expansion-tank shutoff matters
A serviceable installation makes a difference. Providing an appropriate isolation arrangement at the expansion tank can reduce future service time because a technician may be able to safely service the tank without draining the complete hydronic system. Any valve arrangement must still preserve the expansion tank’s ability to protect the boiler during normal operation and comply with applicable requirements.
What should you do if your boiler pressure is too high?
If a boiler is showing an unusually high pressure reading, leaking water, or failing to heat the home, do not repeatedly reset or repressurize it without finding the cause. Keep clear of hot water or steam, avoid operating leaking equipment around electrical components, and contact a qualified heating technician. The correct pressure depends on the system’s height, design and manufacturer requirements, so a generic number is not a substitute for field diagnosis.
Boiler repair in Camp Hill and nearby Central Pennsylvania communities
Metro HVAC is based in Camp Hill, PA and services hydronic boilers and other heating systems across the surrounding area. For related service information, visit our boiler repair page, our heating repair page, or our Camp Hill HVAC services page. You can also read another Camp Hill boiler service-call report.
Need help with a boiler that is leaking, overpressurizing, or not heating? Contact Metro HVAC to schedule a heating diagnostic. Your Comfort. Our Mission.
