Winter is approaching quickly, so you must ensure that your boiler heating system is ready to shoulder the burden. Consistent boiler maintenance is essential for commercial building owners who want to ensure their boiler is functioning correctly. This article contains a comprehensive boiler maintenance checklist you can use to avoid boiler problems during the colder months.
Consistent boiler maintenance helps identify hazards and inefficiencies; it increases the boiler’s lifespan and decreases energy consumption, saving you money in the long run! Resolving minor issues before they become more significant problems helps ensure the safety and comfort of any residents, employees, or visitors in your building.
If your boiler starts having problems or fails altogether, contact Design Mechanical for 24/7 emergency service!
Boiler Maintenance Checklist
Boilers are heavy-duty machines that burn fuel to produce hot water or steam. Manufacturers design boilers to withstand high temperatures and pressures. Because of these harsh conditions, you must inspect them regularly and perform maintenance to keep them working correctly.
Daily / Weekly Boiler Maintenance Items
You may want to address the following maintenance items daily or weekly, depending on the severity of the conditions in which your boiler operates. These items include minor checks and slight modifications.
- Clear any debris, and sweep the area if necessary
- Check for leaks on the system’s exterior
- Check the exhaust system’s temperature
- Check the boiler’s pressure reading
- Listen for strange noises, vibrations, or rattles
- Check for blocked or obstructed vents
- Check the control settings for problem codes or service notifications
- Check for leaking water or low boiler water levels
- Examine the flame for damage or soot
Monthly Boiler Maintenance Items
During your monthly boiler inspections, you will inspect many of the same items from the previous checklist and add some additional items as well.
- Examine the exterior for debris accumulation, hot spots, and leaks
- Make sure the combustion air is clean
- Check for leaks in the flue gas vent
- Examine the boiler relief valve
- Examine the burner’s diffusers
- Make sure the lights and alarms function correctly and the belts are in good condition
- Check for air leaks near doors and windows
- Check for leaks or blockages in the drain lines and trap
- Make sure the gaskets are secure and clean them
- Make sure your chemicals are at the right concentration
Quarterly / Seasonal Boiler Maintenance Items
These periodic maintenance items will vary depending on your location and climate and go into greater detail than daily and monthly inspections.
- Check for trash, snow, or dried leaves in the external boiler system
- Check the discharge line from the relief valve and the hydronic pipe
- Check the drain system, inspect switches, and make sure wires are not frayed
- Examine the burner assembly
- Check if the burner flame’s appearance changed
- Check the water level
- Check the water’s pH levels
- Inspect the gaskets
- Examine the pump and the base mounts
- Check oxygen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide levels with a combustion analyzer
- Clean the plugs and pipes
Annual Boiler Maintenance Items
Contracts and warranty agreements often mandate that a licensed HVAC service professional inspects your boiler once per year. Annual maintenance and inspections are more in-depth than typical monthly or quarterly maintenance.
- Check for rust or debris buildup on the exterior
- Examine the burner flame for any changes
- Check drain valves for clogs
- Examine the condensate system
- Check for internal and external leaks.
- Look for problem codes on the display
- Examine the hydronic piping
- Check the temperature
- Secure all wires and connections
- Check the water’s pH levels
- Examine the chemical feed system
- Disinfect the burner assembly
- Flush the system to reduce sediment buildup
- Check the gas valves
- Clean tubes and tube sheets
- Examine the burner’s refractory
- Examine and lubricate moving parts
- Examine the insulating material for signs of wear and tear.
- Examine the chemical feeds
- Re-calibrate system fault codes, service codes, and operating controls
Contact Design Mechanical for Commercial Boiler Inspections and Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is critical if you want your boiler to perform well and last as long as possible. We highly recommend performing weekly, monthly, and quarterly inspections to ensure nothing is wrong with your boiler. At the very least, you must have a licensed HVAC company inspect your boiler once per year.
Design Mechanical offers preventative HVAC maintenance programs to keep your equipment in working condition. Our team of certified technicians provides frequent, full-service maintenance to ensure that your HVAC system is operating effectively and efficiently.
Give us a call at (913) 281-7200 today to learn more about why we are Kansas City’s preferred choice for 24/7 commercial HVAC maintenance and discover how our comprehensive suite of services can help your business.