When the cold temperatures of winter arrive, you will need to run your heating system almost constantly if you are to keep the house comfortable. If you live in a home that uses a boiler for warmth, you will need to follow several steps to make sure that the boiler functions as efficiently as possible.

Protect The Boiler Against Lime Accumulations

Over the course of a winter, the boiler will have a sizable amount of water flow through it. For homes with hard water, this can contribute to large accumulations of minerals and sediments gathering in the system. In particular, lime scale can form on the interior heating element. These deposits insulate the heating elements, which will limit their effectiveness at warming the water.

To stop these deposits from forming, you might want to consider investing in a water softening system. These systems will remove most of the excessive minerals from the water before it enters the boiler.

Have The System Tested For Corrosion

Every year you should have the boiler system inspected for signs of corrosion. The metal in these systems will gradually degrade, which can contribute to it developing rust. Over time, this rust can cause the system to be more likely to develop and experience a drop in efficiency.

Unfortunately, many homeowners assume that it is impossible to know whether there is rust on the interior of these systems. Yet, many boiler service technicians can use a small camera to inspect the interior of the system. By taking advantage of this ability, you can discover and repair any rust before it contributes to major damage.

Know The Warning Signs Of Needing To Replace The Pilot Light

A faulty pilot light can be another potentially serious problem for your boiler to experience. Without a working pilot light, the system will be unable to activate to heat the water. Unfortunately, there are several reasons why a pilot light may fail to work as needed.

Minor problems, such as oil residue blocking the pilot light, can often be corrected by a thorough cleaning. However, there are other problems that can only be correct by replacing the pilot light. These will often include cracking, warping, and corrosion. These issues may be able to cause gas or oil to leak out, which could pose a fire risk.

Every couple of weeks, you should clean the pilot light to remove any materials that could cause these issues, and when cleaning, you will want to look for any signs of physical damage to the pilot light system. If you find these issues, you should hire a professional to replace the component before it can cause damage.

For more information, contact local professionals like Schweitzer Roger & Sons.

Share