Cleaning your home’s boiler system is an important step as a homeowner to keep your heating system working properly. Regular boiler maintenance can lower your heating costs and extend the lifespan of your system.
Because boilers are constantly working and responsible for heating your home and providing hot water, dust and grime build-up can clog the pipes and tubes — lowering your home boiler’s efficiency. In this post, you’ll find how to clean your boiler, including the inside, in three easy steps. Let Oasis do the work for you! Call us today to sign up for our yearly maintenance plan which includes a deep cleaning of your boiler heating system.
How to Clean Your Home’s Boiler Heating System
To clean your boiler, you’ll need the following tools:
- A vacuum cleaner
- A screwdriver set
- Cleaning brushes
How to Clean Your Home’s Boiler
Step 1: Turn Off Your Boiler
Before starting, locate the main switch and turn off your boiler. Then, wait two to three hours for the unit to cool down to avoid burning yourself. Once the boiler is no longer hot, use screwdrivers to remove the front and top cover and vent stack.
Step 2: Scrub the Tubes and Clean the Boiler Unit
With the covers and vent stack removed, you now have access to clean the tubes in the heat exchanger. Use your cleaning brushes to clean soot, dust and carbon from the tubes to the base of the heater. Next, clean the vent stack and then use clean water to wash the burner tubes, and then let them dry. Once the tubes are dry, vacuum the bottom and outside of the boiler to clean the area up. Then, remove any obstructions from around the boiler and vacuum any dirt and dust from the area.
Step 3: Reassemble the Unit and Restart
Now that your boiler is clean, reassemble the pieces and restart the system. Allow the thermostat to return to its normal temperature and look for a blue flame. Then check that the heating system is working normally.
Additional Routine Residential Boiler Maintenance
While cleaning your home boiler system, you should also check the following regularly to ensure your boiler is working properly and efficiently:
- Check air vents and flues for blockages: Obstructions in your vents will prevent air from circulating, causing the unit to work harder and leading to increases in your heating bills.
- Maintain the boiler’s water level: Without the proper water level, your boiler can be damaged beyond repair.
- Check for any leaks: Leaks can occur with normal usage of your boiler. Sealing these is part of normal maintenance.
- Clean any hard water and lime-scale buildup: Hard scale build-up can result in your boiler being unable to maintain normal temperatures and prevents your boiler from working normally and efficiently.
- Keep your boiler well-lubricated so parts run smoothly: Another DIY-friendly maintenance item to reduce wear and tear on moving parts.
- Clear any dust build-up in the boiler room: Keep the area around your boiler clean. Any dust buildup can enter your boiler and prevent it from running smoothly.
- Flush water from the boiler to remove dirt and grime buildup: After winter, when your boiler is working at its highest capacity, it’s important to clean the water from your boiler to remove dirt and lime-scale that naturally accumulates.
Call Oasis for Regular Boiler Maintenance
If you need your boiler cleaned — or routine boiler maintenance performed for maximum efficiency — call the professionals at Oasis Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration.
Our technicians have over 35 years of heating and cooling knowledge and experience, meaning you’ll receive the best service in the Arlington, VA, area.
To set up your boiler maintenance, complete our online scheduling form or call us today at 703-339-3877.
*Last Updated 07/02/2021
“Great timely service. Knowledgable and neat techs. Good value.”
“Would absolutely use their services again. Arrived on schedule.”
-Springfield, VA
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