Some problems with your high-efficiency boiler may require expert assistance. Call (860) 530-2632 for 24/7 emergency boiler services today!
Colder weather requires heating solutions to keep the indoors at more reasonable temperatures for daily life. We have many methods of keeping buildings warm, from furnaces to heat pumps. Boilers also present a good multi-faceted option to heat the property and water at the same time.
However, a natural gas boiler heating system can only work with consistent maintenance. How can you be sure that your HVAC unit and system will work when you need it to?
Connecticut citizens go to SM Mechanical Services for top-quality furnace repair in Glastonbury. Here’s what you need to know about boiler maintenance, what you can do, and what you should leave to the experts.
#1. Recognize Boiler Warning Signs
When gas boilers break down or stop functioning, they usually show potential signs of disrepair beforehand. Regularly scheduled boiler maintenance services can help these issues occur less frequently. Even so, you may find it helpful to detect smaller issues before they increase:
- Leaky pipes
- Poor water pressure
- Whistling or banging noises
- Unexplained high energy bills
- The boiler unit turns off by itself
- The pilot light constantly goes out
- Non-blue pilot light colors, like yellow or orange
In one of the most serious cases, you may smell a rotten egg scent or feel woozy in your home. These symptoms and smells could indicate a gas leak. Even if you use liquid propane, the substance becomes gaseous when not under pressure and is essentially no different from natural gas.
Immediately evacuate the property, leaving doors open, and stay at least 330 feet away from the building. Then, call emergency services and your trusted boiler maintenance company for emergency repairs.
#2. Ventilate the Boiler
Many homeowners tend to treat boiler rooms or areas as additional storage space in their buildings. While you can store objects in the boiler room, they shouldn’t block or crowd around the boiler unit. If issues occur with the unit, the items could hide leaks, piping malfunctions, or sealant breaks.
Moreover, a natural gas boiler heating system needs good ventilation so the combustion process can occur. Without good airflow to and around the boiler, your unit may not be able to heat the water.
If you’re having water temperature troubles, try moving the items stored around the unit. Also, make sure there’s at least 30 cm between smaller units and the back wall or at least 60 cm for larger units. Faulty installation could mean it’s closer to the wall than it should be.
#3. Maintain Good Water Pressure Levels
Water pressure does more than make keeping clean easier on your property’s occupants. Proper water pressure levels indicate that the boiler unit works properly and meets efficiency standards. If it seems too high or low, that could indicate an internal or environmental issue with the unit.
You can review your boiler’s manual for the preferred pressure levels and how to adjust the pressure yourself. However, be careful when doing so since excessive pressure could cause a hot water burst. If you don’t feel comfortable adjusting the boiler’s pressure, you can rely on expert boiler repair from qualified technicians.
#4. Remember to Check Your Heater Off-Season
Connecticut homeowners generally don’t need to heat their properties during warmer seasons, leaving the heating system off for months at a time. However, you don’t want to have a heating malfunction when you need it most, either.
A natural gas boiler heating system uses heated water or steam to warm the property. Try turning on the heating system for the boiler monthly for a few minutes. Doing so can allow you to check that it creates the steam or hot water needed for property warmth.
#5. Check the Insulation in Your Boiler Room
Have you noticed that your energy bills seem too high for the amount of heat you have in your building? You may think that your boiler is outdated or faulty because it doesn’t produce enough heat.
However, the issue could be with faulty insulation around your boiler. Insulation allows the boiler to produce heat in an enclosed space without it leaking into other areas, reducing its effectiveness. If you find weaknesses in the insulation around the boiler, that could be the reason behind its ineffective heating.
However, if the insulation around your boiler looks fine, you can also check other household habits and conditions:
- Is the window insulation or seal working?
- Is your roof insulated against heat energy exchange?
- Which vents do you have open while the heater is on?
- When was the last time you checked the pipelines in your floors?
- Do you know what kind of insulation is in your walls?
- Do you have windows and doors open during the time you have the heater on?
#6. Add Insulation to Your External Pipes
Winters in Glastonbury can get exceptionally cold, with temperatures averaging around 30 degrees Fahrenheit by January. Frigid weather conditions can lead to water freezing, even inside of pipes. If the water cannot get through your pipelines, it cannot get into the boiler or feed throughout the property.
In addition to leaving faucets to drip during the night, you can also insulate external pipelines. Adding this insulating layer – also known as lagging the pipes – can help maintain water flow. Otherwise, the freezing water can expand and cause broken, leaky, or burst pipes, which can lead to expensive repairs.
Call a Reliable Boiler Maintenance Crew
Handling different parts of your natural gas boiler heating system can be potentially dangerous to your health. For many parts of your boiler system, we highly advise that you rely on licensed and insured boiler and HVAC technicians.
SM Mechanical Services can handle any HVAC issues in your Glastonbury property, from a soft lockout on a furnace to boiler malfunctions. Our trustworthy team provides 24-hour emergency services so you can call anytime. For top-quality customer service and professional repairs on your natural gas boiler heating system, call (860) 530-2632 today!