Bartels Heating & Cooling Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Boiler’

The Benefits of Annual Fall Boiler Tune-Ups

Monday, September 25th, 2023

As the leaves start to change color and the crisp autumn air descends upon us it’s time to think about preparing our homes for the upcoming winter season.

One important factor of winter readiness that often goes overlooked is the annual Fall boiler tune-up in Fairfield, OH. While it may seem like just another item on your to-do list, regular maintenance for your boiler can offer many benefits that go beyond just making sure your home stays warm and comfortable.

Let’s take a look at the advantages of scheduling an annual fall boiler tune-up.

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Your Boiler Isn’t Firing Up, Here’s What It Means

Monday, February 27th, 2023
pipes-in-a-boiler-room

How’s your boiler going to deliver warmth without heat? You turn it on, it doesn’t fire up. You turn it up, and nothing happens.

Okay, we’ve established one thing: there’s a problem with your boiler. But is the solution clear, or are there bigger problems beneath the surface? It’s tricky to say over a blog post, but we’ll do our best.

With a boiler not igniting, it isn’t as simple as checking the pilot light. Most homeowners know  how to do that, and many boilers don’t use pilot lights anymore. These other problems could be getting in the way of you, and a warm home.

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Should You Shut Down Your Heater for the Middle of the Year?

Monday, April 27th, 2020

natural-gas-furnace-burnerWhen the summer weather finally settles in and we know we’ve seen the last of the chill for the season, you’ll face a decision about your heating system. Should you shut it down entirely for the summer until it’s needed again in the fall? Or is it better to simply keep it on, but not in use?

The answer to this question varies depending on the type of heating system you use, and it’s not always an absolute “on” or “off” distinction. We’ll go into the details for the different types of systems you may have:

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Diagnosing Noises from Your Heater

Monday, December 25th, 2017

woman-ears-covering-handsThe hum of your heating system as it starts its cycle as usual is, of course, nothing to be alarmed about. You know the normal noises your heating system makes, which means you know when something is off. Typically, a sound from your heating system may not mean that your system is in any immediate danger, but it often still means you should call in technicians ASAP.

Want to know what those noises really mean? Check out our guide to some common sounds below, but be sure to reach out to your local technicians for boiler or furnace repair the moment you notice a problem!

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Which Heating Installation Is Best for Your Home?

Monday, September 18th, 2017

natural-gas-burners-flame-furnaceThe chill of winter gives you an excuse to curl up in bed with a blanket for a little longer, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to keep warm. Of course, your home’s central heating system is the most effective way to cool off, assuming you have one that’s the right fit. Sizing, efficiency rating, style of heater, and more have an effect on whether you feel warm enough throughout the winter (and not just on lazy mornings spent in bed).

Let our heating experts help you locate the best heating installation for your home—before temperatures drop any more. Give yourself time to consider your options, if you can. Contact our team, and check out the guide below for a primer on the best heating installations for any home.

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Can I Skip a Boiler Tune Up This Year?

Monday, November 14th, 2016

We get this question often, from homeowners who aren’t too certain this service is really necessary each year. Others think that, since their boiler is new, it shouldn’t have any problems yet. And others simply don’t want to pay for a service if they aren’t sure it’s necessary.

But annual boiler service is preventative. It’s not meant to solve any problems that are noticeable now, but to prevent issues from coming up when you need the heat to work the most—the middle of winter. And too many homeowners learn this the hard way.

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Boiler 101: The Expansion Tank

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

Boilers have advanced tremendously during the more than a century that they have heated businesses and homes. Few boilers use steam any more to send heat through their pipes, and the cast-iron radiators of yore have gradually vanished in favor efficient baseboard heaters. Another way boilers have made a technological leap forward is with the invention of the expansion tank to replace primitive methods of regulating water pressure inside the boiler to protect it from “water hammer.”

We’ll take a close look at this important component of the operation of your boiler in West Chester, OH. If you encounter any troubles with your expansion tank or other parts of your boiler, call the 24-hour emergency service technicians at Bartels Heating & Cooling.

What the expansion tank does

If you look at the top of the water tank of your boiler, you will notice what looks like a smaller water tank attached to a pipe. That’s the expansion tank. Although the name may make it sound like it’s a container for extra water, that’s not how boilers work. (They have a set amount of water already in them, and more water won’t make them work any better.) The expansion tank does the job of maintaining even pressure inside the boiler by giving its water a place to expand and a cushion to absorb the pressure and then regulate it.

Inside the expansion tank, a diaphragm divides the chamber into two sections. On one side, water from the boiler tank flows in through a pipe; on the other side is air controlled by a valve. When the pressure in the boiler increases, the water in the expansion tank presses against the diaphragm and the air on the other side, which alleviates the pressure. The air valve then pushes back against the water until the valve registers that pressure has reached normal once more.

This system prevents air from entering the water. Older boilers simply had an open space at the top of the main tank to absorb the pressure from water hammer (a pressure surge from water motion when a valve closes), but the introduction of air into the tank would promote corrosion. The expansion valve keeps the air and the water separate.

Keep the expansion tank working

Expansion tanks can suffer damage and lose their seal against water or start losing air. When this happens, you need to call for repairs before your boiler’s pressure increases and begins to cause leaks. Call for repairs for your boiler in West Chester, OH from Bartels Heating & Cooling. We also offer a maintenance program that will make sure the expansion valve is always in the best shape possible. Call us to sign up today.

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Signs It’s Time for Boiler Replacement, Not Boiler Repair

Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

Boilers are a durable and reliable means of heating your home, which is why they’ve been in use for as long as they have. Sooner or later, however, you’re going to have to consider replacing an old boiler with a new one. That exact moment can be hard to spot, especially if you’re trying to get as much as possible out of your existing boiler before putting it out to pasture. Here are some signs it’s time for boiler replacement, not boiler repair from your Fairfield, OH heating specialists at Bartels Heating & Cooling.

  • Costs are getting too high. This can include multiple repair visits coming one on top of the other, as well as a general wear and tear that translates to higher monthly costs, even if you aren’t using the boiler any more often than normal. At some point, you just end up throwing good money after bad, meaning that it’s time to install a new boiler.
  • The condition of your boiler is deteriorating. An old boiler isn’t necessarily ready to be done, but the older it gets, the more you need to weigh the possibility of replacing it. If its overall condition worsens – if more rust appears, leaks start springing up more regularly and the like – then an older unit may be ready for replacement by a new one.
  • Energy efficiency is lower than you’d like. Boilers are designed to last for many years, even decades in some cases. During that time, new developments and improved technological breakthroughs will result in newer, more efficient boiler systems that will do the same job while using less energy. You may wish to replace your system in order to take full advantage of these developments.

If you spot signs it’s time for boiler replacement, not boiler repair, then call on Bartels Heating & Cooling for help. Give us call to schedule Fairfield, OH heating repair or replacement services today!

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Boiler Problems Caused by Rust

Thursday, February 6th, 2014

Your boiler is a key part of your household, providing dependable heating even during the coldest parts of winter. That’s no small consideration. Rust is a concern with any kind of metal equipment, let alone that relies on water to do its job. As closed loop system, the boiler isn’t supposed to have problems with rust. But no system is perfect, and when rust forms in your boiler, it can cause serious trouble very quickly. If you need boiler repair in West Chester, OH, call Bartels Heating & Cooling today.

Rust is caused by oxidation, which entails oxygen, water and metal. When a leak springs up in the system, oxygen can enter into in, starting the oxidation process and creating rust in the metal. It can occur in the main boiler itself or along any of the pipes and radiators it uses to heat your home. But wherever it occurs, trouble is bound to follow. The rust corrodes and east away at the metal of the boiler, making the walls thinner and more prone to damage.  Eventually, it will breach the metal, resulting in a leak and necessitating replacement of whichever parts have been overcome by the rust.

A number of preventative measures can avoid boiler problems caused by rust. A trained professional can use certain chemicals to keep oxygen from oxidizing inside the boiler. However, you usually need to call in a service technician to remove the rust and correct whatever problem created it in the first place. If you need West Chester, OH, boiler repair service, call Bartels Heating & Cooling. If you spot rust in your boiler, don’t hesitate to contact us right away.

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Signs of Trouble with Your Boiler

Monday, September 23rd, 2013

A boiler is an efficient and effective way to heat your home. You see plenty of both in southern Ohio towns like West Chester; boiler systems embrace a wide variety of makes, models and ages. When your boiler exhibits signs of trouble – especially during our cold Midwestern winters – you need to take steps to correct it quickly. That’s why it pays to look for signs of trouble before they get out of hand. Here are a few of the most common:

  • No hot water or hot water taking time to arrive. This can some from a number of possible sources, such as a faulty thermostat or thermocouple, trouble with the pilot light, a valve failure, or mineral build-up preventing the flow of hot water to your radiator. Whatever the cause, the effects are obvious and need prompt addressing in order to restore heat to your home.
  • Leaks. Leaks indicate a problem with a coupling, damage to the boiler’s water tank, or possibly a faulty line. Besides creating puddles of water that need to be cleaned (and possibly damaging nearby household fixtures as well), leaks can severely impair your boiler’s ability to function.
  • Strange noises. Noises can come from many sources, ranging from leaks to air in the system to water gurgling through sediment build-up. A trained professional can identify the source of the noise and take corrective measures before the problem becomes worse.
  • Frozen condensate pipe. The condensate pipe removes waste liquid from the boiler: usually water mixed with a few trace gases created by the heating system. During the cold months – and we have more than a few of those in Ohio – the water may freeze in the pipes, creating a back-up and causing damage to your boiler.

Regardless of the cause, when you recognize signs of trouble with your boiler in West Chester, OH, it’s time to call in a professional. If you need boiler repair or service for any type of heating system, call Bartels Heating & Cooling today to set up an appointment.

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