Are you wondering if it’s time to drain your boiler? Keep reading for 5 signs that it is time to drain your boiler.
As a homeowner, you rely on your boiler to help keep you comfortable when the temperature falls. Many boiler systems provide heat for your home in addition to heating your water.
Fortunately, boilers are reliable appliances. With proper care and maintenance, they last around 15 years on average.
One of the most important parts of boiler maintenance is regularly draining it. But, how do you know when it’s time to drain your boiler?
Read on to learn the five signs your boiler is due for draining.
Signs It is Time To Drain the Boiler
1. It’s Been Over a Year
Depending on where you live, your hot water boiler should be drained at least once a year. This keeps everything in working order.
Over time, sediment accumulates in the bottom of the boiler. This can stick to the heating element and cause unnecessary wear and tear on your appliance.
If you live in an area with hard water, you may need to drain your boiler more often. The calcium and magnesium present in hard water cause sediment to build up at a much quicker rate than softer water.
2. Your Boiler Is Too Noisy
When sediment collects near the bottom of your hot water boiler, it can occasionally become displaced by the boiling water beneath it. When this happens, you may hear it clattering around inside the boiler system.
These rattling sediments can be quite destructive. They can damage the interior of the boiler system and lead to corrosion.
If you notice your boiler making odd sounds, it’s likely the sediment inside. This is one of the surest signs it’s time to drain your boiler.
3. You Notice Sediment in Your Hot Water
While this is an extreme case that only affects boilers that serve as hot water heaters, it’s a sure sign that it’s time to drain your boiler.
If you neglect your water heater and put off maintenance for too long, the sediment collected in the heater will eventually be visible in the water coming out of your tap. Fortunately, it’s still safe to drink and bathe in this water.
4. It Takes a Long Time to Heat Up
Boilers can take half an hour or more to heat up, but if you notice it takes your boiler significantly longer than that, it’s likely time to drain it.
If you use your boiler to heat your home, you’ll notice that your radiators or baseboard heaters take hours to reach your desired temperature. If your boiler heats your water, the hot water coming out of the tap will only be lukewarm.
As the sediment collects in the boiler, it causes the heating element to work overtime. Not only is this wasting money, but it can also cause the heating element to fail.
In most cases, draining the boiler will restore its efficiency, as the heating element will be able to properly heat the water.
5. You Notice Your Energy Bills Increasing
Draining your boiler is a must if you want to keep it working efficiently. The sediment buildup causes the heating element to use more energy than it should, and this can have a dramatic effect on your energy bills.
If you notice your bills are higher than usual, consider checking your hot water heater. It’s easy to lose track of time and forget your yearly boiler maintenance or not notice gradual changes in heating time.
However, an expensive energy bill is a difficult thing to ignore. It can have a profound effect on your personal budget.
The Importance of Draining Your Boiler
Draining a boiler is a simple process that shouldn’t take much longer than an hour but can dramatically improve the performance of your boiler.
Increase Your Boiler’s Lifespan
While most boilers will serve you well for at least 15 years, it’s not uncommon for a boiler to exceed that. Some well-maintained boilers have lasted for decades.
Of course, draining is only a part of regular boiler maintenance. You’ll still need to have technicians perform periodic tune-ups and inspections. In the meantime, continue to monitor your boiler for signs of sediment accumulation.
Improve Efficiency
Sediment in your boiler can collect near the heating element, causing it to consume more power and work less effectively. Draining your hot water boiler is the only way to clear out the sediment build-up.
Once your boiler is drained, it will return to its usual level of operation, and its annual operating cost will drop as well.
Just a single millimeter of scale accumulation can cause your boiler to use 2% more fuel. Since many modern boilers have efficiency ratings near 98%, there’s no doubt that allowing sediment to collect in your heating system costs you money.
Sediment Can Cause Boiler Failure
As sediment collects inside your boiler, it has an insulating effect. A dirty boiler runs much hotter than a clean one. As a result, your boiler’s tubes can overheat or rupture and cause a plumbing emergency.
Scale can also clog important boiler tubes, which also leads to overheating or sudden failure. These sorts of failures knock your boiler out of commission until you have it serviced.
In many cases, this costs more money and takes significantly more time than simply keeping your boiler clean.
You’ll Live More Comfortably
You depend on your boiler to keep you comfortable. No one wants to shower in lukewarm water or deal with the cold winter months in a home with inadequate heating.
Ensure you and your family stay cozy by performing a regular boiler drain.
Drain Your Boiler to Keep It Working Properly
Draining your boiler to clear out the built-up sediment keeps it working at maximum efficiency. It doesn’t take long to do, and it improves the lifespan of your boiler and helps keep you comfortable inside your home.
Look out for long heating times, sediment in your water, or a rattling sound inside your boiler. Also, keep in mind that you should drain your boiler at least once a year.
Are you located in the Omaha area and unsure if you should drain your boiler? Schedule an appointment with Eyman. Call (402) 731-2727 today!