Why Are My Batteries Boiling/Bubbling?
Commonly Occurs After
- Batteries were recently filled with distilled water
The Problem
The most common culprit of bubbling or boiling over is overfilling the distilled water in your batteries or filling the batteries when the batteries aren’t fully charged.
When the plates in your batteries are charged they expand. If there is no room for the water to go when the plates expand this causes the water to be pushed out of the battery caps and onto your garage floor.
Certain sounds during charging can often cause concern, but the bubbling sound you hear during the bulk recharge phase is completely normal.
This sound is caused by the release of hydrogen gas bubbles that play a crucial role in maintaining battery health. They stir up the sediment that settles at the bottom of the batteries, promoting a healthy battery environment and preventing buildup.
How to Confirm
- Safety First: Wear protective eyewear and gloves, as battery acid can be harmful.
- Locate Battery Cells: Open the battery compartment to access the individual cells. Most batteries have removable caps on each cell.
- Check Water Level: The correct water level is crucial. There should be a visible mark or a ridge inside the cell that indicates the maximum water level.
How To Fix
- Disconnect the Charger: If you observe your batteries boiling over, immediately unplug the charger.
- Remove Excess Water: Use a turkey baster to carefully remove any excess distilled water from the batteries, ensuring the water level is just above the plates. This water may contain battery acid, use causing to avoid spilling on skin or splashing in your eyes. DO NOT USE BASTER ON FOOD AFTER
- Monitor for Spills: If the fluid bubbles out of the battery during charging, disconnect the charger right away. This is a sign that there is too much fluid in the batteries.