If you smell gas, leave the building, then call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Do not flip switches, use a lighter or call us first. Boiler gas valve repair after that point usually belongs to a heating specialist or the gas utility, not a general plumber.
We are plumbers, and we do not claim boiler specialist services. We handle the water side of the system and the plumbing around it. This page explains where each trade fits so you call the right one the first time.
If you smell gas
Get everyone, pets included, out of the building. Do not stop to open windows.
Use 911 or the gas utility from a neighbor's home or from the street.
No switches, no phones inside and no garage door openers.
Return only when the gas utility says the home is safe.
Who handles what on a boiler
| Problem | Who to call | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gas smell anywhere in the house. | Gas utility or 911. | This is a leave-first emergency. |
| Boiler will not fire or the valve will not open. | Heating specialist. | Gas valves and burner controls are specialist work. |
| Relief valve dripping or discharging. | Plumber. | It is a safety device on the water side. |
| Pressure keeps rising or dropping. | Plumber, often with the expansion tank. | Water-side pressure faults are plumbing problems. |
| Leak at a fitting, pipe or radiator valve. | Plumber. | Water piping is our work. |
| Meter or street-side gas line. | Gas utility. | It sits on the utility's side of the system. |
What to look at before heating season
- Read the pressure gauge when the boiler is cold and note the number.
- Look for drips or stains around the relief valve, pump and valves.
- Check that a carbon monoxide alarm sits near sleeping areas and has working batteries.
- Listen for banging or gurgling, which can point to air or low water.
- Keep the area around the boiler clear of boxes and chemicals.
Many residential boilers run at a modest cold pressure and rise as they heat, but the correct numbers are on the nameplate and in the manual. If the gauge reads far outside that range, stop and get it checked. A gauge that keeps falling means water is leaking out somewhere.
The plumbing side we do handle
A boiler is a closed water loop. Its relief valve opens if pressure or temperature runs too high, and it should never drip regularly. An expansion tank absorbs the water that expands as it heats, and a waterlogged tank causes pressure swings and a leaking relief valve.
We repair and replace water piping, shutoff valves, relief valves, fill valves, expansion tanks and leaking fittings. If your boiler also feeds an indirect hot water tank, our water heater repair work covers the tank and its connections. New piping runs fall under plumbing installation. Anything that touches the burner or the gas control stays with the right specialist.
Willingboro, NJ: what to know about heating season
Willingboro sits in hardiness zone 7a, and January averages 32.8 degrees Fahrenheit. A boiler that fails in January is a real problem, so look at it in October. Check pressure, listen for noise and note any drips before the first cold week.
Nearby Mount Holly has a 260 acre historic district listed on the National Register, with more than 250 dwellings standing by 1800. Older houses often have older piping around the heating system, and Burlington Township homes can be the same. If you own one, ask for a visual check of valves and fittings before the heating season.
The Willingboro Construction Official, Inspections & Code Enforcement enforces the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code at 1 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, phone 609-877-2200. Permit rules vary by the work, so ask the office before replacing a boiler or its piping.
If the relief valve is discharging
Do not cap or plug it
The valve protects the boiler from over-pressure. Blocking it creates a hazard.
Read the gauge
Note the pressure and temperature, and write down when the discharge happened.
Turn the boiler off
Use the service switch, then leave the system to cool before touching any pipe.
Look for the cause
A waterlogged expansion tank, a stuck fill valve or a failed thermostat can all push pressure up.
Call the right trade
Water-side faults come to us. If the burner ran away or overheated, call a heating specialist as well.
Hot water from a relief valve discharge pipe can scald, so keep children and pets away from the pipe outlet. If the pipe runs to a floor drain or the outdoors, check where the water went. Tell the plumber exactly what you saw, because it speeds up the diagnosis.
Signs that point to a plumber
- Water around the base of the boiler
- Relief valve dripping
- Pressure gauge climbing past normal
- Weeping radiator valve or pipe fitting
Signs that point to a specialist
- Boiler will not ignite
- Pilot or burner will not stay lit
- Error codes on the control board
- Clicking with no flame
Boiler leaking or pressure acting up?
Call us for water-side problems. If gas is involved, leave first and call 911.
What shapes the cost
Homeowners policies usually cover sudden water damage from a failed boiler component, but may not cover the boiler itself. Photograph damage and read your policy before you call a claim in.
Questions from Willingboro homeowners
Can a plumber repair a boiler gas valve?
It depends on the work and the license held, and we do not offer boiler specialist services. We handle the plumbing side and send you to a heating specialist for burner and gas control faults.
Why does my boiler relief valve keep dripping?
A waterlogged expansion tank or high pressure is a common cause. Do not cap the valve, because it is a safety device.
Is a boiler leak always dangerous?
A water leak is damaging but not usually a gas hazard. Shut off the water feed, turn the boiler off and call a plumber.
Do I need a permit to replace boiler piping?
Permit rules vary, so ask the Willingboro building department before work starts.
Who should I call first if I smell gas at my Willingboro home?
Leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Call a plumber only after the utility has cleared the home.
For plumbing work near a boiler in Mount Holly or Burlington Township, we can inspect the water side. Have the boiler model and age ready when you call, since both speed up the first conversation.