Temperatures are really starting to dip here in Androscoggin County as we work our way toward the coldest and darkest months of the year. Now more than ever, you’ll need to make sure that the boiler and radiators (or baseboards) that make up your home heating system are ready for action.
Here’s a checklist that will help you prepare your boiler for the busy season to come.
Check your breaker and power switches – No power = no heat.
Read your owner’s manual – Familiarizing yourself with how your heating system works will help you get the most out of your equipment.
Check your radiators – Cold spots on your radiators are usually a sign of trapped air in your system; to get rid of that air, you will probably need to bleed your radiators.
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.
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 or faltering equipment – Professional service will keep your older boiler working properly, but 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 new gas- or oil-fired 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.
