As Calgary’s Boiler Experts, we at Instant Plumbing would like to share some tips about boiler maintenance. We often get asked the question around the topic of how to maintain your boiler.
If you heat your home using a residential boiler, there are a few things you should know about maintaining it to keep it at peak performance. By paying attention to the right things and scheduling your regular annual maintenance, you will avoid potential problems and ensure that your boiler lasts as long as possible.
Monthly Boiler Maintenance
There are two main potential problems to watch for on a regular basis, ideally checking monthly at least. The first is for any leaks, no matter how small. Even the smallest leak, where droplets of water are slowly escaping from the system, is allowing fresh water to enter the system at the other end. Fresh water is oxygenated, and this oxygen will allow rust to form. Allowing a leak to go unchecked in your boiler is a lot like leaving a bicycle outside over the winter — it’s a good way to allow major damage and see the appliance rot away quickly. If you see even the smallest leak, call to have it looked at and fixed as soon as possible.
The second regular check-up applies if you have a closed hydronic system. In this case, you must confirm that there is sufficient glycol in the system at all times, as without it the system will lose pressure and shut down. This can cause major damage to the internal working parts, such as the cast iron heat exchangers which will rust, the resulting iron deposits then clogging the whole system.
Annually Service your Boiler
Like all gas appliances, boilers require regular, professional maintenance every 12 months. Conveniently, this means you can schedule your boiler’s yearly maintenance for the same appointment as your furnace maintenance. This regular maintenance will include a professional combustion analysis — this is not something you should worry about on your own.
You may have also heard about the need to flush out your boiler. This is only required for instant hot boilers, and even then only if you do not have a water softener installed. This is not something you should do yourself; the process involves specific chemicals to break down calcium magnesium build-ups and is something that your certified plumber will do as part of your regular maintenance.
Due for your annual boiler maintenance? Call today to book your appointment!
Thank you to our Journeyman Plumber Jason M. for providing the insight and expertise for this post! Trained in the UK, Jason displays a great knowledge of heating and indoor air quality products and how to best integrate that into residential use to improve customers’ overall satisfaction with their home environment.
