Steam heat and boiler questions

No. STL Steam Heat is a referral service operated by Thurr Solutions. When you call or send a request, we pass it to an independent local heating technician who works on boilers and radiators. They quote, schedule and do the work.

No. Calling or sending a request is free, and you don't have to hire anyone. Any price comes from the technician, and you decide whether to go ahead.

Yes, requests for hot water boilers and baseboard or radiator hot-water systems are welcome. Choose "Hot water" on the form.

St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and the Illinois Metro East. If you're nearby but not listed, call anyway.

Mark your request as "no heat right now" and we'll try to reach an available technician quickly. Same-day and after-hours service depend on availability and aren't guaranteed.

An independent local heating technician. You can ask them about their experience, licensing, insurance and pricing directly before any work starts.

Yes, requests for rental flats and small apartment buildings are welcome. Tell us how many units the boiler serves.

Steam boilers usually have a small glass tube on the side showing the water level, plus a pressure gauge reading in low PSI. Hot water systems are filled completely and usually have a circulator pump and an expansion tank. If you're not sure, pick "Not sure" on the form and a photo of the boiler will settle it.

Often, yes. Many steam problems are controls, vents, water level or piping rather than the boiler itself. Sometimes the honest answer is that replacement makes more sense. The technician who looks at it can tell you which.

It depends on the house, the radiators and your budget. Many St. Louis homeowners keep steam because the radiators and piping are already there. Get the options laid out by someone who works on steam, and decide from there.

It varies with the job. The technician can give you a timeline with the estimate. If you have no heat in the middle of winter, say so up front.

On a one-pipe steam system, the supply valve is generally meant to be fully open or fully closed. A half-open valve can trap water and cause banging and spitting. Air vents are the usual way to balance heat. Ask the technician what fits your system.

Common causes are a stuck air vent, a closed valve, or a radiator tilted so water sits in it. On two-pipe systems, a failed steam trap can do it. It's usually a small fix once the cause is found.

In one-pipe steam, steam goes up and condensed water comes back down the same pipe, and each radiator has an air vent. In two-pipe steam, each radiator has a separate return pipe, usually with a steam trap. They're serviced differently, so it helps to know which you have.

Some quiet ticking as pipes warm up is normal. Loud banging usually isn't. It often comes from water trapped in a pipe or radiator, and it can usually be reduced or eliminated.

Leave the building right away and call your gas utility's emergency line or 911 from outside. Don't flip switches or try to relight anything. This site can't help with a gas leak.

Don't add cold water to a hot steam boiler. Turn the boiler off and let it cool, then call. A steam technician can check the low-water cutoff and find out why the water is low.