Maintenance and repairs are best performed during the hot summer months. Systems and appliances like your boiler have to be inspected and their performance evaluated. This is one of the easiest ways to ensure your boiler is up and running when you need it the most, during the cold winter months. Such issues usually occur during these months simply because of the freezing cold water running through pipes. But to make sure you avoid some of the most unpleasant accidents and issues on your boiler, follow the advice below.
The secret to maintaining a perfect, highly-functioning boiler all year around is having it checked each year, before the cold weather sets in. Make sure you don’t gamble too much on the “out of sight, out of mind” philosophy here, since this might cost you a lot of money and mental stress.
If for various reasons, you’re unable to schedule such an appointment before the cold weather sets in, you still have to have it checked out by a team of professionals. This is possible, with the help of a mobile boiler. This system can be installed temporarily in your home, for as long as you need it. It is perfect when your boiler breaks down because it will allow you to enjoy the perks f a fully functional product.
Before scheduling an appointment, make sure you remember that all technicians and professionals are extremely busy during the fall months, so plan for some delays.
Newer models are proven to perform better and to show better resilience in the face of time. If your boiler is older than 10 years, you might want to invest in a newer model. Why? Well, below are some of the most relevant reasons.
When you schedule your maintenance appointment, make sure you ask the technicians to lubricate your boiler. This is a crucial step to enjoying a flawless system for longer, in spite of the years that you have had it up and running. Parts like fans and pumps should be included in the annual lubrication process.
This step allows your boiler to work at full capacity for longer and to reduce energy consumption, in the long run.
HVAC technicians say that every so often, homeowners should look forward to draining or bleeding their radiators.
When radiators run for too long without being bled, air remains trapped within these and lowers the efficiency of these parts. This is an easy intervention. Everybody can tackle it, with a little bit of care. All you have to do is turn your heating off and turn the radiator key in the valve counter clockwise. This will cause a hissing noise, but don’t worry, this is only air leaving the radiators. Once you notice water dripping from the valve, turn the valve off with a clockwise rotation.
In the end, make sure your boiler has all the water it needs. Just check the pressure valve and see.
One of the most common issues boiler owners encounter is low pressure. Low pressure in your boiler is one of the causes that lead to inefficiency, but it can also cause an array of other issues and potentially permanent damage.
To make sure your boiler pressure is in the normal range, check the pressure gauge on your appliance from time to time. To check if your boiler pressure is in normal parameters, check your appliance’s manual and search for this information. If the pressure is too low or too high, call a team of technicians for an in-depth evaluation of your system. This will save from a lot of headaches, in the long run.
And to make things even safer, perform this intervention before the cold, winter months come. It’s always safer.
We know your boiler room is most probably small and crammed. But to make the most of your appliance, you need to make sure nothing is obstructing air ventilation in your boiler room. Bags, boxes, clothing articles and shoes, all these will eat up a lot of your precious air and cause your boiler to run poorly.
A messy boiler room is also a hazard. In case emergencies appear, reaching your appliance will be more than difficult. As a general rule, clean the inside of your boiler room, especially around your boiler, in case you need to reach it in a timely fashion.
Not only having a tidy boiler room makes a difference in terms of performance and safety, cleaning the inside of your boiler makes a tremendous difference, too. In the process, take into account the vent hamper and the flues. This will help you avoid a fully clogged system. If you live in a region with hard water, it’s better to call a team of experts to help you in the process. Hard water causes lime scale build-up and this damages your boiler’s heating capacity.
In freezing temperatures, your pipes are also very likely to freeze. To make sure they’re up and running no matter what your thermometer shows, pour some hot water on them.
Once you no longer use the boiler system, after the cold months, make sure you drain all the water in it. This will help you prevent corrosion. Plus, you will avoid costly interventions in the future.
Even if you don’t need to put your boiler into function after the winter passes, make sure you turn the heat on from time to time. This will help you ensure everything works as it should and no damage has appeared from the last time you checked.
Cynthia Madison