If you have never owned a home with a boiler, you likely do not know much about them. Even though the weather is hot right now, you should go ahead and learn how to keep the boiler maintained now. This will ensure that you and your family stay warm when the hot weather leaves and the cold weather moves back in again. Below is some more information about this so you can get started:

Turn It Off

Before you do any kind of maintenance on your boiler, make sure you turn it off first. To turn it off, you must turn off the fuel supply, as well as the electrical power. How you do this depends on the type of boiler you have. Refer to the owner's manual if you need help. This is important as working on a boiler while it is on is hazardous to your health and can cause injury.

Clean the Combustion Chamber

Over time, soot collects in the combustion chamber and it coats the walls, which will eventually cause erosion. You can prevent this from happening by cleaning the combustion chamber. You can use a wire brush that you can purchase at a hardware or home improvement store. Use the brush to scrape the soot off the walls. When you are finished, use a shop vacuum to remove any loose debris left behind. Check the combustion chamber periodically throughout the winter months so you can remove the soot as soon as it starts building up.

Bleed the Radiator

The first time you turn on your boiler let it run for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. In many cases, the boiler will not get warm. This is because cold air can build up inside a boiler when it sits throughout the summer. Fortunately, you can take care of this yourself.

To do this, you can bleed the radiator. First, turn the boiler off. There should be a radiator key for the boiler.  You need to get this key as well as an old cloth. Place plastic over the carpet in case the boiler leaks.

Place the radiator key in the valve on the furnace and turn it anti-clockwise until it clicks to open the valve. As you do this, water will likely come out of the valve. You can hold a cloth under the key to catch this water.

Once you turn the key the radiator will start hissing. This is the air coming out of it. Wait for this hissing sound to stop. Once this happens, use the radiator key to close the valve back. Now turn the boiler back on and it should heat up fine for you.

Have your boiler professionally maintained by an HVAC contractor at least once per year to ensure it stays in good condition. The contractor can also help you with the above if you have problems doing any of this.

Contact a company like Rickett Industrial Environmental Systems for more information and assistance. 

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