Every home and business that uses central heating will have a boiler. Maintaining a boiler is as important as maintaining any other vital system in a home or business. Without boiler maintenance, the life of the boiler will be drastically shortened. The best way to keep a boiler running properly is maintaining it regularly instead of waiting for a part to break down. Below are a number of tips to maintaining a boiler:

1. Regular monitoring and logging the boiler readings, especially industrial boilers, is essential to making sure everything is operating properly. Keeping a log record is essential and includes such readings as gas temperature, flue temperature, and fuel consumption. This will help you identify any sudden or gradual changes that may be an indication of a problem. For instance, an increase in gas flue temperature over time could indicate a build up of scale which decreases heat transfer and will require the services of a professional. Other readings to monitor and record include: water level, boiler operating pressure and temperature, gas pressure, condensate temperature, and oil pressure and temperature,

2. Checking the boiler for water hardness is another important maintenance procedure. Boiler experts recommend having a water analysis performed as water hardness can decrease a boiler’s efficiency. When there is the accumulation of minerals in the water the system will operate at less of a capacity. Acquiring an ion exchanger will minimize the development of water hardness.

3. It is important to make sure the boiler is not full of soot as it will reduce its efficiency. The build up of soot hnders heat tansfer to the water section of the boiler. When there is a decrease in the transfer of heat, the burner will turn on more often which expends more fuel. The result is increased energy costs. The boiler should be cleaned at least twice a year.

4. It is important to check the boiler for leaks. Areas to be checked include stay bolts, goosenecks, horizontal and vertical seams, and mud legs. Make sure to replace broken bolts and studs. Make sure you check the fuel gauge for accuracy.

5. To check to see if there is an oil and air mixture problem, check the color of the burner flame. If the flame is pale, there is not enough oil or there is too much air. A flame producing black or dark orange smoke means there is too much oil or too little air. You can assess fuel efficiency by performing a combustion test.

6. Heating checks that should be oerformed include: checking return lines and then flushing and cleaning out mud legs, checking air vents including the radiators, blow down the low water cut off and then determine if the water feeder and gauge glass are in good order. While performing heat checks, you also inspect the belt motors and replace them if they are worn.

The best time to perform a boiler and maintenance check is the spring and fall. It is always a good idea to set up an inspection program by a professional boiler or plumbing company. By emlisting the services of a professional, any problems with the boiler will be detected and repaired promptly and efficiently.

Author Bio: Laird and Son is a family owned business that specializes in furnaces, heating, air conditioning, and boiler Toronto and the GTA. With over 60 years of experience, trust the experts at Laird and Son and get radiant heating floor Toronto today!

Category: Home Management
Keywords: boiler, home improvement, home renovation, air conditioning, heating, family, business, society