Steam boiler repair
Plenty of older St. Louis homes and multi-family flats still heat with a steam boiler in the basement. When it starts acting up, you want someone who works on steam regularly, not someone who only knows forced air.
Signs to watch for
- The boiler shuts off and restarts over and over (short-cycling)
- The water level in the sight glass is low, jumps around, or you're adding water often
- The burner won't light, or the pilot keeps going out
- Water or steam leaking around the boiler or the near-boiler piping
- Rusty, dirty water in the sight glass
- The boiler runs but some radiators never get hot
What the visit usually involves
- Checking the water level, sight glass and low-water cutoff
- Testing the pressure control (pressuretrol) and safety controls
- Inspecting the burner, ignition and venting
- Looking at near-boiler piping and the main vents
- Flushing or skimming the boiler if the water is dirty or surging
- Explaining what needs fixing now and what can wait
Every system and every technician is different. The technician you're connected with will explain their own process and price before any work starts.
Have this ready when you call
- Steam or hot water, if you know (a sight glass on the side usually means steam)
- Boiler brand and a photo of the label, if you can get one
- What it's doing: noises, leaks, no heat, short-cycling
- Whether it's a single-family home or a flat with several units
Questions
How do I know if I have steam or hot water heat?
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.
Can an old steam boiler still be repaired?
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.
Need help with steam boiler repair?
Call now and get connected with a local technician.
Talk to someone about your heat
(314) 260-1210Tap to callCan't talk right now? Send the form and a local boiler technician can call you back.
- Free to request, no obligation
- Your info goes only to the technician handling your request
- A photo of the boiler helps: you can text it after the call