Maintaining Hot Water Heating Systems              (1)  Read More

Test the pressure-relief valve and high-limit control valve on your heating systems to ensure proper function. Do so by running your hand over the drain lines attached to the valve to see if they’re hot, which means that the pressure relief valve is opening. It’s normal for the drain line to be warm near the valve. Raise the test lever on the valve. If it’s functioning properly, you’ll hear water going down the relief valve drain line. To test the high-limit control, press the pilot button. If it does not release, turn off the gas and replace the valve.  (2)  Check the pressure tank. The tank should be filled with air, but if it is not properly functioning, it will be filled with water.        (3)  Clean the surface of heating systems and heat exchanger.  Maintaining Steam Heating  Systems.  (1)  Drain some water from heating systems and float chamber. This removes sediment from both areas. Draining water from the boiler improves heat exchange function, and draining water from the float chamber prevents clogs from sediment in the low-water cutoff control.  (2)  Test some of the water you have drained from your heating systems. If you need to, add chemicals to help prevent corrosion and control natural deposits. You can do so by purchasing a water testing kit. You are mainly testing for the alkalinity, which causes corrosion, and the calcium and magnesium content, which leave behind sediment. Alkalinity for water is usually between 100 and 500 mg/L; however, a slightly higher alkalinity is also normal. The water in your heater normally contains 21.8 mg/L of calcium, with 1 to 135 mg/L still in the normal range. Depending on your source, magnesium content could range 2 mg/l to 111 mg/l. If your water is on the high side of either range, you might want to consider purchasing a water softener for your home.  (3)  Clean and test both the high-limit and low-water cutoff safety controls, as well as the heat exchanger. Test the high-limit control as explained earlier. To test the low-water cutoff, push the test button while the burner is running. The LED lights on the controls should turn on. When you release the button, the burner should start and the lights should turn off. Clean these controls by inserting a long, narrow brush into the valve openings.  note: Heating systems maintenance should be performed at least once per year especially before winter sets in.