Boiler Season is Coming: What Homeowners Should Check Before the First Cold Night
It may still be summer in Philadelphia, but cooler weather will be here before we know it. The last thing any homeowner wants is to turn on the heat for the first cold night of the season and discover that the boiler isn't working properly.
Late summer and early fall are ideal times to give your heating system some attention. A simple boiler startup checklist, combined with professional annual boiler maintenance, can help identify potential problems before your system is working around the clock.
Here a few things homeowners can check as they begin preparing their homes for heating season.
- Look for Visible Leaks Around the Boiler
Before turning your boiler on for the season, take a look around the unit and nearby piping.
Watch for:
• Water on the floor around the boiler
• Dripping or staining around valves and fittings
• Corrosion or rust on piping
• Signs of previous water leakage
• Unusual moisture around pumps or other components
Even a small leak shouldn't automatically be ignored. A plumbing or heating professional can determine where the water is coming from and whether repairs are necessary before the heating season begins.
2. Check the Boiler Pressure
If your boiler has a pressure gauge, take a look at the reading before and while the system is operating.
An unusual pressure reading, or a pressure reading that changes significantly during operation, may indicate that the system should be evaluated.
Homeowners should avoid attempting to adjust boiler components themselves if they aren't familiar with the system. Boilers contain hot water, pressurized components, fuel-burning equipment, and safety controls that should be serviced by a qualified professional.
3. Make Sure the Thermostat Responds
Turn your thermostat up enough to call for heat and pay attention to how the system responds.
Does the boiler start normally? Does the home begin heating as expected? Does the thermostat appear to be communicating properly with the heating system?
If the boiler doesn't respond, takes unusually long to start, repeatedly turns on and off, or isn't maintaining the temperature you've selected, it's worth having the system checked before colder weather arrives.
4. Check Your Radiators or Baseboards
Once the boiler is operating, walk through the home and check the radiators or baseboard heating.
Look for areas that aren't heating properly and listen for unusual noises.
Uneven heating doesn't necessarily mean the boiler itself has failed. Depending on the type of heating system, there could be an issue with circulation, air in the system, valves, controls, or another component.
Identifying those problems now is much easier than discovering them when temperatures drop.
5. Keep the Area Around Your Boiler Clear
Boiler rooms and basements have a habit of becoming storage areas.
Before heating season starts, make sure the area surrounding your boiler is clear and accessible. Avoid storing boxes, household items, or combustible materials directly around heating equipment.
Keeping the area clear also gives your plumber or heating technician proper access when it's time for annual service or repairs.
6. Schedule Your Annual Boiler Service Before the Rush
A boiler should generally be professionally inspected and serviced annually.
Preseason service gives a technician an opportunity to inspect the boiler's condition and operation, check applicable safety and operating controls, identify visible problems, and address maintenance needs before the system is heavily relied upon.
Scheduling boiler maintenance before the first stretch of cold weather also has another advantage: you're getting ahead of the seasonal rush.
Once temperatures suddenly drop, heating service calls increase quickly. Taking care of maintenance beforehand can help reduce the chances of finding yourself without heat when you need it most.
Don't Wait for the First Cold Night!
Your boiler may have been sitting unused for months. Just because it worked properly last winter doesn't guarantee everything will operate exactly the same when you turn it back on this year.
Take a few minutes before heating season to:
• Check for visible leaks
• Look at the boiler pressure
• Test the thermostat
• Check radiators and baseboards
• Clear the area surrounding the boiler
• Schedule annual boiler maintenance
A little preparation now can help you head into fall with greater confidence in your heating system.
Fall Plumbing & Heating Specials are Coming
Aqua Plumbing & Heating, LLC., will also be rolling out our Fall Home Prep Specials soon, including savings designed to help homeowners prepare their plumbing and heating systems for the colder months ahead.
Keep an eye out for the upcoming offers.
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Need to schedule your annual boiler maintenance? Contact Aqua Plumbing & Heating, LLC., today to get your system ready before the first cold night.
๐ (267)600-8159
๐ Aqua Plumbing & Heating Expert Services in Philadelphia
