The homeowner checklist (~60 min)
1. Test heat call
Thermostat up 5°F above current room temp. Boiler should fire within 30 seconds. Listen for normal startup — no banging, whistling, unusual sounds. Run 10-15 minutes to verify it reaches temperature.
2. Check system pressure
Cold gauge reads 12-15 PSI. Below = low water/leak. Above 22 PSI cold = expansion tank issue (see pressure guide).
3. Visual inspection
Walk around the boiler. Water on floor, rust streaks, soot near burner, frayed wires, dust accumulation. Clean dust carefully.
4. Bleed radiators (if applicable)
10 min per radiator. See step-by-step.
5. Replace thermostat batteries
Even if seems fine. Dead batteries in January cause a lot of "boiler stopped working" calls that are actually thermostat issues.
6. Test the CO detector
Press test, replace batteries. No CO detector within 15 ft of boiler? Get one — $25.
7. Clear the area
Combustion air needs 3 ft clearance. Air intake / vent terminations free of debris and snow.
What we do during pro maintenance (things you can't DIY)
1. Combustion analysis
O2, CO, stack temp with calibrated analyzer. Verify air-fuel ratio within manufacturer spec. Adjust. Critical for safety (CO production) and efficiency.
2. Flame rod / igniter inspection
Mod-cons especially. Fouled flame rods cause lockouts mid-winter. Annual cleaning prevents this.
3. Heat exchanger inspection
Visual check for scale, corrosion, leaks. Catches issues 1-2 years before they become emergencies.
4. Gas pressure verification
Manometer check of inlet and manifold gas pressures vs manufacturer spec.
5. Expansion tank pre-charge
Verify air pre-charge matches system fill pressure.
6. Condensate trap and neutralizer
Clean trap, replace neutralizer media (~every 2 years).
7. Safety device testing
High-limit, low-water cutoff, PRV — verify each functions under test.
When to schedule pro service
- September: ideal. Available appointments, lead time, issues from sitting idle surface during first test runs.
- October: still fine. Some scheduling pressure builds.
- November: harder to schedule. First-frost emergencies begin.
- December onward: emergency rates for same-week service. Don't wait this long.
Call us in September. $269-$329, 60-90 minutes. Cheapest insurance against a $400+ emergency in January.