Before the heating season starts:
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Check for standing water. Turn up the thermostat, let temperature and pressure build up in the system, and go down to the boiler room to check all of the pipes and valves you can see for leaks. If you find a leak, call a professional. Most leaks can be stopped by tightening fittings, but if the technician needs to replace any pipes or valves, he or she will turn off the water supply and power to the boiler, and drain the system.
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Have water temperature and pressure checked. Once the system has been running for an hour or so, have the temperature and pressure gauge checked. The water temperature should be within the range of 180⁰F and 200⁰F. Pressure within the system should be between 12 PSI and 25 PSI—for a two-story house, 18 PSI is all that’s needed. If the temperature or pressure measurement falls outside these specified ranges, consult a technician.
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Have the circulating pump lubricated. If it has lubrication cups, a few drops of 3-in-1 oil will be squirted into them.
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Clean soot from the inside of the boiler’s combustion chamber. This periodic checkup is part of your technician’s regular maintenance and is similar to cleaning the chamber in a forced-air system, including cleaning with a wire brush and vacuuming.
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Dust radiator surfaces and straighten fins on baseboard heaters. All that’s needed is a vacuum. If fins are badly bent, a professional may use a fin comb to straighten them.
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Get air purged from the radiators.The bleeder valve on each baseboard run or radiator will be opened. The valve will be left open until water begins to trickle out, then it will be closed.
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Drain and flush the system. Most experts recommend having a professional do this once every year.
OIL SYSTEMS ARE ADDITION $75
Complete seasonal hot water gas boiler heating maintenance as described in ADR contract.
Once you check out a ADR representative will contact you to schedule your maintenance.
