Clicking sound

Ludwig12

Hi experts,

When the thermostat turns the heat on, there is a clicking noise (I attached the recording, sorry I had to zip it as it does not allow me to upload mp3 file directly). The continued noise is from the boiler, the clicking noise comes once every few seconds. Sometimes, it is more frequent and louder. It will go away after 30 seconds or so. This has been going on for some time, is this something that I should be concerned about?

Thank you,
Lud

STEVEusaPA

YES

EdTheHeaterMan

No
Maybe

HomerJSmith

If you have spark ignition, it is possible that the ignition cable is sparking to ground.

Ludwig12

HomerJSmith said:

If you have spark ignition, it is possible that the ignition cable is sparking to ground.

Sorry, I was not clear in the original posting. I recorded the sound standing next to the boiler but the clicking noise did not come from the boiler, it is somewhere in the piping. I can hear it even clearer when I am upstairs.

Thanks.

HVACNUT

Is it Time by Pink Floyd?
Its pretty hard to discern from your audio. Use your phone for video, lets see what you have, and follow the sound. 

Zman

My bet is a chattering check valve.
Some pictures or a video would help.
What does your system pressure gauge read?

Ludwig12

Thanks for the responses. The system pressure is at 12 psi. The clicking sound seems to be coming from piping inside the wall not from the boiler.

Attached is a short video and photo of the boiler set up. Both hot water and central heating is coming off the boiler.

Ludwig12

Hi all. I was able to trace the source of the sound to the gas vent pipe. The grey pipe in the picture. It makes the clicking sound every few seconds when the boiler is on. Any idea of what is going on? Thanks.

mattmia2

Is it loose and free t move on the hangers and through the holes it is routed through? Plastic expands and contracts a significant amount as it heats and cools, if it can't move freely it will slip and sick and make clicking or ticking noises.

delta T

mattmia2 said:

Is it loose and free t move on the hangers and through the holes it is routed through? Plastic expands and contracts a significant amount as it heats and cools, if it can't move freely it will slip and sick and make clicking or ticking noises.

Years ago I installed a triangle tube solo 110 for a retired engineer. We wanted to use teardrop hangers on all-thread to suspend the vent piping that ran 40' horizontally through the mechanical room. He insisted that that was not secure enough, and wanted to build a rigid support down from the ceiling and use two hole clamps against the wood supports to suspend the vent piping. We told him that the expansion of the pipe would cause noise but if that's what he wanted we would do it. Two months later his wife called us and told us to remove his supports and do what we wanted to do in the first place because the noise was driving her nuts. She could not hear the boiler running, but the ticking noise from the vent expanding was transferring through the floor big time. With tear drops, the pipe can slide through the hanger and you don't get noise.

I suspect the noise is being caused by this in your case.

Ludwig12

delta T said:

mattmia2 said:

Is it loose and free t move on the hangers and through the holes it is routed through? Plastic expands and contracts a significant amount as it heats and cools, if it can't move freely it will slip and sick and make clicking or ticking noises.

Years ago I installed a triangle tube solo 110 for a retired engineer. We wanted to use teardrop hangers on all-thread to suspend the vent piping that ran 40' horizontally through the mechanical room. He insisted that that was not secure enough, and wanted to build a rigid support down from the ceiling and use two hole clamps against the wood supports to suspend the vent piping. We told him that the expansion of the pipe would cause noise but if that's what he wanted we would do it. Two months later his wife called us and told us to remove his supports and do what we wanted to do in the first place because the noise was driving her nuts. She could not hear the boiler running, but the ticking noise from the vent expanding was transferring through the floor big time. With tear drops, the pipe can slide through the hanger and you don't get noise.

I suspect the noise is being caused by this in your case.

Thanks to Mattmia2 and Delta T for the insights. My main concern was something may be faulty and I should deal with it now before it is too late. The sound is a bit annoying but still tolerable, so I will just keep an eye on it for now.