Services
Steam boiler service and repair
A steam boiler heats water until it makes steam, and everything else in the building depends on doing that safely and evenly.
We work on gas and oil boilers in small multifamily buildings. We start with the parts that protect the boiler, then the burner, then the pipes the steam travels through.
Signs you need it
Radiators that stay cold, or heat at one end only
Banging or knocking in the pipes
Water level that drops or swings in the gauge glass
A burner that cycles on and off every few minutes
Water or steam at a vent or a fitting
Brown water in the gauge glass
The visit
What happens at the visit
- 01
Step 1: We read the boiler
Gauge glass, pressure gauge and pressure control, then the burner flame or the oil nozzle and the flue.
- 02
Step 2: We test what protects it
The low-water cutoff, the safety valve and the pressure setting, each in turn.
- 03
Step 3: We follow the steam
Main vents, risers and a sample of radiators, to see where steam arrives late or not at all.
- 04
Step 4: You get the estimate in writing
What is wrong, what we propose, what it includes and when we can start, before any repair begins.
- 05
Step 5: We do the work and test it
We run the boiler through a cycle and check the cold apartments again before we leave.
Cost
What drives the cost
We don't print prices here. These are the things that move the number, and the estimate lists each one that applies.
What is wrong
A stuck vent costs less to fix than a failed low-water cutoff, which costs less than a cracked section.
Fuel and burner
Gas and oil burners have different parts, and some burners are cheaper to repair than to replace.
Age and access
Older controls may need to be replaced as a set, and a tight boiler room takes longer.
How dirty the water is
Sludge and oil in the water cause false cutoffs and uneven steam. Cleaning the boiler is a separate line.
The number of units
More risers and radiators mean more time to balance the system.
Permits
Some work needs a permit, and the estimate says whether yours does.
Questions
Questions about this work
How often should the low-water cutoff be tested?
Many owners test it every year and flush the boiler at mid-season. Your insurer or the city may require a schedule for your building.
Why does my boiler lose water?
A leak in the returns, a stuck vent that spits water, or a boiler that foams from dirty water. We trace it before we add a part.
Can you convert my steam boiler to hot water?
Sometimes, but the radiators and piping were made for steam. We explain what a conversion would involve before you decide.
Related
Often part of the same visit
Book a visit or call the office
Tell us the building and what you see. We will call you back to set the visit.