Home Boiler Care Winter Checklist

Believe it or not, winter is just weeks away – and although it’s been a mild fall so far, we all know what’s possible as we head toward the shortest days of the year here in Sullivan County.

As we work our way toward the coldest months of year, it’s a good idea to make sure that your boiler and radiators (or baseboards) are ready for action. Here’s a checklist that will help you prepare you boiler for the heating season to come.

• Check your breakers – Make sure there are no problems with your home’s electrical system.
• Re-read your owner’s manual – A quick refresher on how your heating system works will help you get the most from your equipment, and troubleshoot any obvious problems.
• Check your radiators – Cold spots on your radiators usually indicate trapped air that will probably require you to bleed your radiators (we can help, if you need it).
• Insulate the condensate pipe – If you have a condensing boiler, it needs to discharge wastewater from the combustion process into a sewer in order to operate safely. That water vapor is sent through a plastic condensate pipe, which often runs outside or through unconditioned spaces (basements, crawl spaces, etc.) in your home. As a result, that water vapor can freeze inside the pipe; when it does, your boiler will shut off as a safety measure. By insulating that pipe, you should be able to prevent this problem from happening.
• Schedule maintenance – If you haven’t gotten it yet, schedule a tune-up for your boiler. Routine professional maintenance is vital to the proper and reliable function of any heating equipment, including your boiler.
• Keep repair numbers handy – Store emergency contact information for your heating system repair company somewhere handy so anyone in your home can access it during a no-heat emergency.
• Consider replacing old equipment – There comes a time when investing in a new, reliable high efficiency boiler is a smarter move than fixing or maintaining your older equipment. When that time comes, be sure to hire an experienced professional to install your boiler – it may cost a little more, but you’ll more than gain that investment back in the form of lower bills, fewer repairs, and more reliable operation over the course of your equipment’s lifetime.

You might be ready for winter, but is your boiler? Make sure by scheduling boiler maintenance in Sullivan County, NY from the pros at Black Bear. Contact us today to learn more.