It may be time to think about turning on your home heating system, especially now that winter is beckoning. A boiler is one of the most useful elements of your home heating system. To ensure your home stays warm during the winter season, you must maintain it well.
Whether your heating system is new or you’ve had it for quite some time, making sure it’s in top condition is essential. It will save you money on repairs and keep you from using an alternative heating system when the cold season settles in. Moreover, an unmaintained heating system can quickly develop a fault and become dangerous.
Let’s have a look at ten possible ways to keep your heating system in its top operating condition while keeping your home warm.
1. Have Your Boiler Serviced Annually
To ensure your heating system runs efficiently, arrange a heating system service check with your HVAC technician at least once every year. This annual servicing will ensure that every component of the heating system is running efficiently and inspected for any fault. Most individuals downplay the importance of servicing their heating systems. However, taking the time to have your heating system thoroughly checked and maintained means that you are far from the risk of finding yourself in the cold once your heating system breaks down suddenly.
By having an annual checkup and maintenance of your heating system, the technician will be in an excellent position to detect any problem while servicing and propose appropriate replacements or repairs early enough. Make it a rule to have your heating system serviced in September or October, thus ensuring it is ready for use during autumn and winter.
2. Regular Cleaning of the Boiler
One thing you might have overlooked is the need to clean your heating system regularly. Heating systems often collect dust, just like other things in your home. Regular cleaning helps prevent a buildup of dust and is vital in prolonging the life of your home’s heating systems.
You can clean the heating system yourself, but you will need to contact a professional plumber or technician to clean the inside. This is because you risk causing damages to the interior of the system or initiating a gas leak. As such, you should contact a professional provider of HVAC maintenance to clean it safely.
3. Check the Pressure
The pressure level of your heating can cause an underperformance if it keeps fluctuating. After a while, your heating system can lose pressure as its efficiency decreases. It is important to constantly check your heating system’s pressure level and ensure it is at a suitable level depending on the kind of heating system you have. If it is below the required level, raise it up by carefully following the technician’s instructions or contact our HVAC technician to refill it.
4. Bleed the Radiators
Once you switch on your heating system, you will notice that not all radiators heat up straight away. This is because of the air in the radiators. Maintaining your radiators will help your heating system to run smoothly. Bleeding your heating system is simple, and you can do it quickly. Simply open your radiator’s valves and let out the trapped air that hinders them from heating up fully.
5. Power Flush Your Radiators
Power flushing is a service mainly focused on the radiators. One thing that indicates that your radiators need to be power flushed is the heating system’s increasing noise. Power flushing involves a thorough cleaning of the radiators as well as the central heating system. To clean these components, you will need to use chemicals to flush out the rust, sludge, and debris accumulated in the pipes, heating systems, and radiators. Such accumulation hinders the components from working efficiently.
Getting the sludge cleaned out from the central heating system is one way to ensure effective running of the heating system while preventing dirt and rust from corroding and damaging your heating system.
6. Check Ventilation
Your heating system needs to have adequate space around them to be correctly ventilated. Ensure that the heating system is housed in a clutter-free room to enable it to breathe effectively. If the heating system is housed in a box, make sure you can reach it with an access panel to maintain it properly and efficiently. The heating system comes with strict ventilation instructions and should be followed to the letter.
7. Lubricate the Circulating Pump
The circulating pump should be well lubricated because it is responsible for moving water around your heating system. If the circulating pump is defective, then the home heating process won’t be successful. As such, you must ensure the pump is lubricated to run and function efficiently. Consider lubricating your heating system’s circulating pump at least once a year. Pour a 3 in 1 oil into the oil cup to penetrate the pump for a perfect grinding as it runs.
8. Check the Heat Exchange
The heat exchange system is often prone to leakages. This is why it is vital to inspect and maintain it often. Have your heating system heat exchange system properly inspected for any minor leakages because this will deteriorate to significant leakages hence endangering your safety and that of the house.
Additionally, check for spots of water around the exchange after or during your check. In the case that you find some small pools of water, then this is a sign that the exchanger needs to be replaced before the leak enlarges to cause water damage.
9. Balance the Radiators
After bleeding your radiators, you will still find that some are heating faster than others are. Balancing your radiator can be tricky but worth the trouble. Gently adjusting the radiators will ensure that the hotter ones will slightly cool down while the cooler ones heat up. Seek the services of an expert if you have installed the heating system in a big house.
10. Clear the Air Vents and Flues
If your central heating system is losing energy quicker than usual, it might indicate that the air vents and flues are clogged and need to be cleared. After a while, you will find that dirt clogs the air vents required for the efficient running of your heating system. Once this happens, your heating system is forced to strain to generate an optimum amount of heat hence shooting your energy bills through the roof. Make sure the air vents and flues are clog-free to allow for smooth air passage.
Conclusion
Taking care of your heating system and other heating components of your system is a continuous responsibility. It is vital to bear in mind that even the smallest issues can quickly escalate into significant problems when it comes to your heating system. There are those tasks that you can carry out yourself, like checking pressure levels and cleaning the dust. You, however, should leave all the technical issues out for an expert to handle. Don’t hesitate to call Wade Heating, Cooling, & Geothermal for maintenance whenever you see any issue.
