24/7 boiler repair in St. Paul, MN

When your boiler stops keeping up, our technicians respond around the clock to get the heat back on.

Gloved hands tightening a brass fitting on boiler piping with a wrench

Safety first: gas and carbon monoxide

A boiler that is not burning or venting correctly can release carbon monoxide. If your CO alarm sounds, leave the house right away and call 911 from outside. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's carbon monoxide information lists headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion among the symptoms.

If you smell gas, leave on foot and do not use light switches or phones inside. Once you are away from the house, call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999. If another company supplies your gas, call the number on your gas bill. Do not shut off the gas meter or try to fix a leak yourself.

Watch for other warning signs as well. The Minnesota Department of Health's CO safety page lists soot streaks and an orange or yellow flame as signs of a problem. If you see either one, call us before you run the boiler again.

What to check before you call

Make sure the thermostat is calling for heat and the boiler's service switch is on. On a hot-water boiler, check that the gauge shows pressure. On a steam boiler, check that water is visible in the sight glass.

If the boiler still will not run, call us for repair. Do not try to relight it or adjust the gas valve yourself. A safety control may have shut it off for a reason.

If the sight glass on a steam boiler shows no water, turn the boiler off at its service switch and call us. Do not add water to a hot boiler yourself.

Common boiler problems

Rumbling from a hot-water boiler is often kettling. Scale, low pressure or poor water flow usually causes it. Banging in a steam system is usually water hammer from water trapped in pipes or radiators.

A dripping pressure-relief valve means the pressure or temperature is too high, or the valve itself is failing. Never cap or plug a relief valve, because it protects the boiler from dangerous pressure. The Department of Energy's guide to boilers lists testing this valve as routine maintenance for hot-water and steam systems.

Leaks around the boiler need attention quickly, since they can damage floors and lead to low system pressure. Other common calls include uneven heat between rooms, a failed circulator pump, water around the boiler and controls that will not start the burner. A burner flame that isn't blue also needs a technician's attention.

Hot-water and steam systems need different checks

On a hot-water system, our technicians check system pressure, the expansion tank, the circulator pump and the pressure-relief valve. Cold spots at the top of a radiator often mean air is trapped inside. We can bleed the radiators and find out why air keeps getting in.

On a steam system, we check the water level in the sight glass, the low-water cutoff and the pressure controls. We also look at radiator vents and the pitch of the pipes. Pipes that sag can trap water and cause banging.

On every boiler, we inspect the burner, the venting and the gas connections. We also test for carbon monoxide before we leave. If we find a safety hazard, we show you what we found and explain your options.

How our repairs work

Our certified, background-checked and drug-tested technicians repair residential hot-water and steam boilers. We diagnose the problem, explain the fix and give you the price before we start. Then we restore your heat and confirm the boiler runs safely.

We answer boiler calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across the St. Paul area. Krinkie's Club maintenance plan members receive a reduced trip charge, up to a 20% discount on most repairs and priority service.

If your boiler needs repairs more and more often, we will tell you honestly. Our boiler replacement and installation page explains what a new, high-efficiency boiler involves.

Warning signs your boiler needs repair

The house heats slowly
The burner flame isn’t blue
Unusual noises or odors
Uneven heat from room to room
Water around the boiler
Fuel bills are rising

Common questions

Why is my boiler making a rumbling or banging noise?

Rumbling is often kettling, caused by scale, low pressure or poor water flow. Banging in steam systems is usually water hammer from water trapped in pipes or radiators.

Is a dripping pressure-relief valve dangerous?

It means system pressure or temperature is too high, or the valve itself is failing. Do not cap or plug it. Call for service so a technician can find the cause.

Do you repair both hot-water and steam boilers?

Yes. Krinkie's technicians repair, maintain and replace residential hot-water and steam boilers across the St. Paul area.

Do you offer discounts on boiler repairs?

Krinkie's Club members receive a reduced trip charge and up to a 20% discount on most repairs and priority service.

What should I do if my boiler stops producing heat?

Check that the thermostat is calling for heat, the boiler service switch is on, and a hot-water boiler shows pressure or a steam boiler shows water in the sight glass. If it still does not run, call for repair and do not try to relight it yourself.