Boilers: 5 Tips to Avoid Failure

All boilers need regular maintenance in order to work most effectively. Malfunctioning boilers work harder, which uses more energy, which lands you with a higher bill. Besides that, if you refuse to treat problems, they only get worse over time, and you may end up having to buy a new HVAC system in Minneapolis. Here are 5 things you can do to keep your unit running as long as possible.

1. Examine Your Boiler

Your boiler parts will deteriorate over time, acquiring the various cracks and holes that come with age. The boiler’s vent connection pipe and chimney are especially at risk, and if you find any holes, you need to have those sealed as soon as possible. Intact pipes work most efficiently and save you money, and they are less likely to fail completely.

Your heat exchanger may also be damaged. This is another common problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. If you notice water leaking from your boiler, this is probably why.

2. Adjust Your Boiler

You may not have ever touched the controls on your boiler, but they are worth examining. You may not realize that you can change them to get more heat out of your boiler or to help it use as little energy as possible. You may have a hard time finding the balance you like between heating and energy usage, but we suggest that you take time to familiarize yourself with your system and tweak the controls until you find the settings that make you happiest.

3. Maintain Your Steam Systems

Remove unwanted sediment from your boiler and float chamber by draining water from both. This will help you prevent clogs and improve your heat exchange. You should also save some of the water that you drain off so that you can test for alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. Follow the directions on your testing kit and adjust your water as necessary. (You may need to add water softener if your numbers are too high.) You should also test your safety controls for both high water and the low limits and clean the valve openings with a narrow brush.

4. Test Your Hot Water System

The high-limit control valve also helps you test your hot water system, as does your pressure release valve. Besides this, you should check your pressure tank, which ought to be filled with air. If it has water in it, there’s a problem.

5. Maintain Your Forced Air Systems

There is a lot to take care of in your forced air systems. First of all, the combustion chamber may crack over time, so test for carbon monoxide to make sure this is not the case for you. You also will need to clean and oil the blower to keep it free of corrosion and unwanted material. You may also have to adjust the blower’s settings, such as flame characteristics and fuel input. Finally, you should seal off any cracks in the connections between your boiler and your main ducts.

If your system is completely beyond repair, you can always buy a new system for HVAC in Minneapolis, but if you follow these steps, you should at least improve your chances of using your existing boiler longer and more efficiently.