The boiler is an incredibly reliable heating system. Many people keep their boilers for decades (although this can be unsafe, and we recommend replacing them before their 15-20 year lifespan is up). Yet, boilers can still run into their share of trouble. One of the most common issues our customers come across in a gas hydronic boiler has to do with something called scaling.
If you hear noises from your boiler, notice a drop in performance, or want to have routine maintenance to ensure your system is in good shape, give us a call! Otherwise, read on to find out what scaling, or mineral buildup, can do to affect your system.
In general, we don’t recommend that you attempt to troubleshoot a boiler on your own, and certainly don’t believe the average homeowner should attempt to make repairs to a hot water boiler. This could be dangerous, and time-consuming when you don’t know what to look for. Technicians with the proper training can come to your home and make a quick assessment with all the tools they need to do so.
There are some things you own that you may replace well before they fail on you. For instance, you might replace your smartphone with the latest and greatest model primarily to take advantage of the camera. You replace your furniture even though it’s still in decent shape just to get a better color or upholstery.
Heating systems have improved in many ways since we first became a company in 1912. The most noticeable and needed improvement has been in terms of safety. Today’s heating systems don’t even require you to keep a pilot light lit. They can ignite themselves with electronic ignition systems, and only when the thermostat calls for heat.
When your furnace runs effectively year after year, a problem with the system comes as a surprise. Furnaces are durable, after all, but only assuming they get the service they really need year after year. Improper maintenance can be a huge contributing factor as to why a heating system experiences frequent breakdowns, although many come without warning.
When it comes to purchasing a new computer, television, bicycle, or even a simple lightbulb, most people want the best item they can afford. They want the fastest system, the clearest picture, the bike that requires the least maintenance, the most efficient bulb. The “best” is sometimes hard to define, but a lot easier when you spend a lot of time interacting with those items. When it comes to finding the “best” heating system, it’s a bit of a mystery.
This year, don’t waste your time making repairs for your home furnace in the middle of winter, when you need it most. You might be surprised to hear that a large portion of the problems we see with furnaces in the colder season are largely preventable. Furnace repairs are frustrating, and in some cases, they are also dangerous. We want to help you avoid them at all costs.
Buying a 
Lots of people are used to one type of heating system or the other. They may always set the temperature on the thermostat without ever really thinking about the system heating the home. If you don’t know much about the heater you use, you’re not alone.