{"id":4617,"date":"2021-12-03T16:50:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T16:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climesense.com\/?p=4617"},"modified":"2021-12-06T18:57:11","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T18:57:11","slug":"steam-heating-system-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climesense.com\/steam-heating-system-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"Steam Heating System Maintenance Tips to Take Care of Your System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Steam heating systems are some of the most energy-efficient home warming systems in existence and these glorious warming systems can keep your home nice and toasty for many decades to come without costing you a dime for repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But to keep your steam heat system<\/a> in great condition, you will need to properly maintain it. Some of the steam heating system maintenance tasks are safe enough for you to do all on your own and there are only a few small tasks you need to stick to weekly. But some maintenance tasks are best left in the hands of professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we are going to discuss the tasks you should leave to experts and we are going to show you how to do those small maintenance tasks all on your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tools To Include in Your Maintenance Kit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few trusted tools can make your maintenance tasks a lot easier. Here is a quick look at the three main tools you should have on hand before you get to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Boiler Bucket <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You will need a strong 2.5 gallon galvanized steel bucket with a sturdy handle. A strong BPA plastic bucket with a sturdy handle can also be a good alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work Gloves and Attire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Steam boilers and pipes can get pretty hot. Get a good pair of work gloves so you can avoid burns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also best to wear some work clothes or old clothes unless you don’t want to splash your expensive outfits in dirty murky water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also wear protective shoes with lots of traction, so you can protect your feet and avoid slipping and falling when you work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 A Screwdriver and Allen’s<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Get a sturdy screwdriver, allen’s, or channel locks so you can loosen up nuts and screws while you work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Weekly Steam Heating System Maintenance Routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you get to work on maintenance tasks, you should choose a convenient time to work. It is always better to work during the daytime than to struggle around in the dark. It is also best to schedule your maintenance day when you don’t have a lot on your plate and during work hours so you can call a boiler company if you have an emergency on hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you identify a good time for your weekly maintenance schedule, you should try to stick to that schedule as much as possible. Here is a quick look at the tasks you will need to do on your steam system once a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is important to inspect your hot water systems regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, you need to take a look at the gauge glass<\/a>. The sight glass is fitted on the side of the boiler and usually consists of a glass tube that is about 5\/8 inches in diameter and 8 – 10 inches tall. The water level should be about halfway up the gauge glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An empty or completely full gauge glass is usually an indication that something is wrong with the system. Contact a boiler expert or your boiler service company to come and repair your system if you notice this type of issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, you need to check the pressure gauge<\/a> on the hot water system. Low-pressure steam boilers usually operate at around 0.5 – 1.5 psi. If the needle jumps into the 2 – 5 psi level, then you should contact your service company because there is too much pressure in your system which may result in pipe blowouts. Do not worry too much if you don’t see the gauge needle move much. A stable needle indicates a stable system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintenance Tasks for Cast Boilers <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Original cast boilers like the American Radiator<\/a> often have a gas conversion burner, a pressure control, a pressure gauge, and a pressure relief valve with a drain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These boilers are pretty easy to maintain but they do sometimes create a layer of sludge at the bottom of the hot water boiler. This layer of sludge can clog the pipes and will affect the heat transfer inside the boiler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a week, you should grab your galvanized steel bucket and drain a full bucket of water from the hot water heating system. Dump the water down the floor drain. Most of the sludge will empty out when you tap water from the boiler. You can also check the drain to ensure that there are no clogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, you can replace the water you drained by filling the boiler through the manual fill valve. Keep an eye on your gauge glass. You can turn off the water when it is half full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find the water levels drop lower throughout the week then you could have a leak in the system. Leaks should be sought out and repaired by a professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintenance Tasks for Next-Gen Boilers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next generation steam boilers like the American Standard or the Bee-Line also need weekly maintenance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need to open up the float chamber weekly to clear out mud and sediment from this area. This is an important task because these boilers usually have a float on the inside that needs to be able to move freely and clear from the boiler sides in order to function properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drain a bucket of water from the boiler to remove the sludge or mud. The best way to drain this type of boiler is while it is running. Dump the water from the water cutoffs while it is firing. This way you can keep an eye on the operation to see if it is still functioning well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sudden loss of water will cause your boiler to automatically shut off because the float will indicate a low water cutoff point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember to top up your boiler again if it doesn’t have an auto-fill function and to turn it on again once full. Check to see if it is still in good running condition before you leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Add Water To Your Boiler<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boiler water levels usually only run low if there is a leak in the system but they can also start to run low if the boiler temperature was set too high to trigger constant tension valve releases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should check the boiler water levels every week. If the system doesn’t have enough water, it won’t function well and it can even become damaged because the higher temperatures can heat the steel and weaken your boiler and pipelines. Wraps, cracks, and leaks can occur if this happens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To top up your boiler water level, you can follow the following simple steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n