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Annual Service: The Importance of Servicing Gas Boilers and Furnaces.
 

It's tempting to postpone maintenance tasks such as servicing your furnace each year, especially since doing so involves hiring a qualified professional. In addition, some homeowners take an "If it's not broken, why fix it?" approach. Whether money is tight or you're questioning the importance of servicing gas boilers and furnaces, failing to service your heating equipment each year could be a deadly mistake! This is one service call that you can't afford to skip or postpone. It is also one that should never be attempted by a non-professional. 

The Dangers of Failing to Service Gas Boilers and Furnaces

One of the primary reasons for servicing gas boilers and furnaces is to ensure that they function properly and do not emit deadly carbon monoxide. Malfunctioning furnaces may appear to be working just fine, yet they're spewing a poisonous, invisible, and odorless gas! Entire families have died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to malfunctioning heating equipment in the home.

 
 
In addition to the danger from carbon monoxide, the gas valve also poses a major risk. Defective gas valves can continue burning gas, even when power has been shut off. Not only that, clogged boiler relief valves, which need to be lifted every three months when in use and removed and inspected annually, can cause massive explosions.  
 
 
 

This was demonstrated in a MythBusters episode, aptly titled "Water Heater Rocket." The MythBusters team plugged the relief valve, causing the pressure to build up to over 332 psi before the water heater shot through the small house built around it like a rocket. The water heater soared through the air like a rocket before coming crashing down. Can you imagine the damage if a cast iron boiler became airborne?  

Annual Gas Boiler and Furnace Service Checks

What do plumbers check when they service your gas boiler or furnace? First, they check the operation of the equipment and make sure that carbon monoxide is not being emitted. They also remove and inspect the gas valve and relief valves.  

Next, the aquastat is inspected. A failed aquastat turns a gas boiler or furnace into what the industry calls a "run away" – a term used to mean that it will not turn off. Depending on where you live and the age of your heating equipment, your equipment may have safety devices designed to prevent this from happening due to local codes. However, if your community does not have local codes requiring a backup aquastat or low water cutoff, or if your heating equipment is older, your gas boiler or furnace could lack this vital safety equipment. Your plumber may recommend the installation of backup and safety devices if your system lacks them. If your system has the devices in place, these too will be inspected to ensure that they are working as designed.

 
 
 

Other checks involve inspecting the flame, motor, fans, belts, and filter as well as removing dust and oiling parts. This service ensures that your system is operating safely and can improve its efficiency.  

Important Steps that You Can Take to Protect Your Family

·         Invest in a carbon monoxide detector, preferably one with a digital display. The digital type will tell you when carbon monoxide is present, even if the levels are too low to set off the alarm to go off. These lower levels could alert you to a potential problem. Even if the levels are low, you'll want to take action as you don't want anyone in your home, especially young children, breathing this poisonous gas. Note that a carbon monoxide detector is NOT a substitution for annual service.

·         Never attempt to service your gas boiler or furnace yourself. This is one plumbing job that absolutely requires a qualified professional with special knowledge and tools. When done properly, your heating equipment will be more efficient and you'll rest easy knowing that it's in good working order. When attempted by a nonprofessional, results could be disastrous!

·         Contact a qualified professional for any heating issue immediately. It's common for homeowners to be aware of a problem toward the end of winter and then forget about it until the cold temperatures return. No, the problem won't fix itself during the summer! By the time the homeowner remembers that the heater needs to be fixed, the weather's already cold and the heating professionals are booked!

·         Don't postpone annual gas boiler or furnace service calls. While it's tempting to postpone an annual maintenance task, annual gas boiler and furnace service is a must. 

Contact a licensed, insured professional to service your gas boiler or furnace today. This is one service call you can't afford not to do.

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