How To Perform Basic Home Boiler Maintenance

Home heating boilers are complicated machines. If you own one, don't perform major boiler maintenance by yourself. Always call a qualified heating and cooling professional for annual servicing. However, some light maintenance tasks are possible for homeowners who are handy around the house. Performing these these tasks can alert you to possible trouble, allowing you to call in professionals before the problem becomes serious.

Start by examining the vent pipes if your unit uses gas or oil. Check for holes, loose joint and debris. Also look for rust and ensure that connections are not coming apart. Turn off the power and clean the pipe as necessary with a vacuum cleaner.

Examine the area around the boiler for leaking water. If you find unexplained pooling, call your HVAC professional. Find the pressure relief valve and the discharge pipe leading away from it. While the boiler is operating, try to feel hot water passing through the discharge pipe and listen for water spurting out of the valve. Either can indicate a leaky pressure relief valve or a valve opening from excessive pressure.

Inspect the expansion tank for correct air pressure, usually between 12 and 15 psi. Higher readings indicate excess water in the expansion tank and should be checked immediately by a professional. Feel the side of the tank. It should feel uniformly warm from top to bottom. If the bottom feels cooler, water is accumulating and should be drained by a professional.

Oil the circulator pump and motor if boiler ports are present. Newer boilers often don't require this step. Check your thermostat and make sure it is perfectly level to maintain accuracy. Replacing an old, mechanical thermostat with a digital one is an inexpensive improvement that will pay big dividends.

Turn up the thermostat and allow the system to heat. If you have manual vents, bleed air out of the system by cracking opening vents with a small screwdriver until water starts to leak out. Do that with each even and when you have finished, reset the thermostat to maintain desired temperature. also check your carbon monoxide detector at this time for proper operation.

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