Boiler repair in Harrison and nearby towns

Boilers are common in older Westchester homes

A boiler heats water, and either hot water or steam carries the heat to radiators or baseboard. Many homes built before and just after World War II were designed around boilers, and you will find them all over Harrison, Rye, Larchmont, Scarsdale, Bronxville and the older parts of White Plains and New Rochelle. Some still burn oil, some were converted to gas, and some now have a newer high-efficiency boiler in place of the original.

Steam and hot water systems behave differently, so tell us which you have if you know. Steam systems usually have a sight glass showing the water level on the boiler, and radiators with a single pipe and a small air vent. Hot water systems have a pressure gauge, a circulator pump and often an expansion tank.

Signs your boiler needs a repair

• Some or all radiators stay cold
• Banging or knocking pipes, especially on steam systems
• Water on the floor around the boiler
• The pressure gauge reads unusually high or low on a hot water system
• The boiler runs constantly or will not fire
• The relief valve is dripping or discharging

What usually goes wrong

On hot water systems, circulator pumps, expansion tanks, zone valves and the controls are frequent repairs. On steam systems, problems often come from low water, clogged vents or pipes that have lost their pitch. Oil-fired boilers need regular burner cleaning and filter changes, and many technicians recommend a yearly service. Any work on the burner, gas or oil supply, or the boiler's safety controls should be done by a trained technician.

Boilers often last longer than furnaces, but once one passes about 15 years, a big repair deserves a second look. Angi notes that boilers typically last 15 to 20 years, and replacement often costs about $3,700 to $8,300.

Thinking about a change

Homes with radiators and no ducts can be a good fit for ductless mini-splits, either to add cooling or to take on part of the heating. Some homeowners keep the boiler for the coldest days and let a heat pump carry the milder ones. Ask the contractor about options before you replace an older boiler like for like.

Safety

If you smell gas, smell fuel oil strongly in the house or your CO alarm sounds, leave and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not try to relight a boiler, bleed a steam system or adjust safety controls yourself if you are unsure. Send a request and let a technician handle it. Use the estimate form, choose boiler repair and tell us if the system is steam or hot water.

Questions homeowners ask