Can I Still Use My Boiler if it’s Leaking?
When a boiler begins to leak, it can be a worrying sign for any building manager. A boiler leak indicates that something within the system has gone awry, possibly due to corrosion or faults in components such as seals or valves. Understanding the issue is critical because a leaking boiler can lead to a decrease in efficiency, potential damage to property, and even safety hazards. Atlas Boiler handles boiler repairs for these situations. A question commonly faced in this situation is whether the boiler can still be used safely. Operating a leaking boiler is generally not advisable as continuing to run it could exacerbate the problem, increasing the chances of a breakdown or posing significant safety risks. The severity of the leak and its underlying cause are essential factors in determining whether temporary usage is feasible while awaiting repair. In case of a boiler leaking water a small amount, it might be possible to temporarily continue using the boiler while monitoring the situation closely, but this should be done with caution. However, it’s key to remember that such a decision should be informed by a professional’s assessment of the leak. Before any further use, the source of the leak should be identified and evaluated, and any DIY attempts at fixing boiler issues should only be undertaken if they fall within one’s competency. Identifying Boiler Leaks Is a leaking boiler dangerous? It may be. That is why identifying a leaky boiler is critical to ensuring its safe operation and longevity. Causes of Boiler Leaks Water leaking can arise from a variety of issues. Commonly, they are due to corrosion of internal components, which can weaken the metal and create gaps for water to escape. Improper installation with loose joints can also result in leakage. A poorly secured filling loop valve or rubber seals might also lead to water escape. Signs of a Leaking Boiler Visual inspection is essential when identifying a leaking boiler. Puddles or drips underneath the boiler unit are clear indicators of leakage. Corrosion or rust on the boiler’s body often points to a consistent water release. Moreover, a sudden drop in pressure or frequent boiler shutdowns might signal an internal leak. To distinguish problematic dampness, one can wipe the area and check if water leaks again, which indicates an ongoing issue. Performing these checks can help in locating a leaking source and taking prompt action to repair it. Immediate Response to a Water Leak When an individual discovers that their boiler is leaking, it’s important they take immediate and appropriate steps to mitigate damage and ensure safety. 1. Turn Off the Boiler: The first step should be to safely power down the boiler. This minimizes the risk of electrical short-circuits and further damage to the system. 2. Stop the Water Supply: If possible, the water supply to the boiler should be stopped. This can prevent more water from escaping and causing water damage. 3. Contain the Leak: Placing a container under the leak can catch dripping water and prevent it from spreading. Additionally, towels or rags can aid in soaking up any water already on the floor. 4. Call a Professional: It’s advisable to contact a qualified heating engineer from Atlas Boiler to inspect and repair the boiler. We have the expertise to diagnose and solve the...
read moreWhat Is the Difference Between Welding and Welding Fabrication?
Atlas Welding & Boiler Repair is a leading provider of welding and welding fabrication services. With years of experience and a team of skilled professionals, Atlas specializes in delivering high-quality welding solutions for various industries. Our company takes pride in offering a wide range of welding and fabrication services to meet the needs of our clients. Atlas Welding & Boiler Repair’s expertise includes metal fabrication, precision welding, structural welding, pipe welding, flux core arc welding, and more. By combining advanced techniques, cutting-edge equipment, and strict quality control, we ensure superior craftsmanship and customer satisfaction. Welding Fabrication and Welding: What’s the Difference? Welding and welding fabrication are related processes, but they have distinct differences: Welding Welding refers to the process of joining two or more pieces of metal together using heat, pressure, or both. This can be achieved through various techniques such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, laser cutting, tungsten inert gas welding, or friction welding. The primary focus of welding is on the joining of materials. Welding Fabrication Welding fabrication, on the other hand, involves not only the welding process but also encompasses the entire process of creating finished metal structures or products from raw materials. This includes not only the welding itself but also the planning, design, cutting, shaping, fitting, and assembly of the metal components. Welding fabrication involves a combination of welding and metal fabrication techniques to create a final product. These are the key distinctions between welding and welding fabrication. Applications and Industries Where Welding and Welding Fabrication Are Essential Welding and welding fabrication are essential processes in a wide range of industries and applications. Construction Welding and welding fabrication are used extensively in construction for the fabrication and assembly of structural steel components, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure projects. Oil and Gas Welding and welding fabrication play a vital role in the oil and gas industry for the fabrication and installation of pipelines, storage tanks, refineries, and offshore drilling platforms. Manufacturing Welding is widely used in manufacturing processes for the fabrication of machinery, equipment, tools, and consumer goods. Welding fabrication is integral to producing a variety of metal products, ranging from small components to large structures. Power Generation Welding is essential in power generation facilities such as nuclear, thermal, and hydroelectric power plants for fabricating and maintaining structural components, piping systems, and pressure vessels. These are just a few examples, but welding and welding fabrication are indispensable processes in many industries where metal fabrication and assembly are required. The Different Tools and Specialized Tools Used in the Main Welding Processes The welding trade relies on a variety of tools and equipment to join and fabricate raw metal components effectively. Welding Machines Welding machines, also known as welding power sources, provide the electrical energy needed to create an arc or heat source for welding. These machines vary in type and power output depending on the welding process being used, such as TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) or gas tungsten arc welding. Welding Electrodes and Consumables Either a non-consumable tungsten electrode or consumable electrodes, along with an electrode wire and a filler rod, supply additional metal to the weld joint. These consumables vary in composition and diameter depending on the welding process and the type of metal being welded. Welding Accessories Various welding accessories...
read moreHow Often Should A Gas Boiler Be Cleaned?
Gas and oil boilers offer outstanding performance for commercial properties in the cold winter months in New York. However, a boiler can only function properly in your building if it is carefully maintained and cleaned regularly by licensed water heating professionals. In most cases, a boiler running on natural gas should be cleaned annually, and Atlas Welding and Boiler Repair are here to assist you. Atlas Boiler is a trusted provider of gas boiler cleaning services for commercial properties in the New York City metropolitan area. For help cleaning gas boilers and other boiler repair needs, call today at (718) 293-3300 for an appointment and free estimate. Having a professional clean your commercial gas boiler is essential for proper maintenance, extending its life, and keeping it running in the cold winter months. Why Regular Natural Gas Boiler Maintenance Is Critical There are many reasons that your building’s gas fuel boiler system should be cleaned regularly: Ensures maximum heating system efficiency. Saves money by increasing efficiency. Reduces the chances of system failure in winter. Extends the life of the heating system. Maintains the warranty on the boiler system. Ensures your family’s safety. Generally, gas-fired boilers should be serviced and cleaned annually for optimal performance and the cleaning is best performed at the end of the winter. When in doubt, it is better to ensure the commercial boiler stays in proper working order by having it cleaned too much rather than not enough. If you don’t clean it every year, it can break down when you need it most. If your gas or oil boiler gets annual servicing, you may be able to clean your gas-fired boiler on your own. However, if your oil boiler or gas boiler hasn’t been cleaned in years, you should rely on Atlas Boiler to handle it. The boiler could be clogged with dirt, mineral deposits, and other materials that affect its efficiency. How To Know Your Gas Boiler Needs Cleaning Gas fuel fired boilers should be cleaned and inspected annually. If they aren’t, breakdowns are inevitable at the worst times. Below are several signs that your gas boiler needs to be cleaned and serviced: No hot water or heat: If the unit does not produce hot water or heat, it is clear that having the boiler serviced and inspected is necessary. It may need cleaning, but problems with the heat exchanger, fuel line, air filter, and other potential issues could also exist. Strange noises: Boilers are usually quiet, so any odd noises, such as whistling, gurgling, or banging, need to be addressed. The noises could be air pockets, mineral buildup, or a failing pump. Odd smells: Do you notice unusual odors around the boiler? If it is an acrid odor, this is burning metal or plastic, possibly from the electrical system. If the odor is like rotten eggs, there could be a gas leak, which is an emergency. The boiler has leaks: A technician should always check for water leaks around the boiler. A bad pressure valve, faulty connector, or heat exchanger could exist. Pressure loss: If the system has a pressure loss, it may not make hot water correctly. Pressure loss could be caused by bleeding radiators, water leaks, or a bad pressure relief valve. Increased energy costs: A surge in energy bills without...
read moreWhat Is The Most Common Boiler Problem?
If you have issues with a commercial boiler, such as a water leak, low boiler pressure, or a faulty thermostat, our boiler repair professionals can assist you. Atlas Welding & Boiler Repair Inc. is a highly rated boiler repair and replacement company serving the New York City metropolitan area. Every gas-safe registered engineer on our team specializes in repairing boilers, inspection, cleaning, welding, and fabrication for commercial properties. Explore Atlas Boiler’s range of boiler services today, or call (718) 293-3300 for an appointment. Common Boiler Service Issues Boilers can shut down for many reasons, including problems with water pressure or a faulty pressure valve. Here are some of the most common issues Atlas Welding and Boiler Repair sees with our customers’ boilers: The Pilot Light Goes Off Every combi boiler or condensing boiler has a slight blue flame under it that keeps the system running. If the pilot light goes out, this may mean the boiler’s thermocouple is broken or malfunctioning. The thermocouple helps the unit supply natural gas to the boiler. New boilers usually do not have this issue, but older boilers could. Sometimes, only the pilot light needs to be relit. If it doesn’t, perhaps the gas stopcock isn’t in the correct position, or gas is out to the whole building. Drips and Leaks Do you see excess water pooling under the boiler tank or pipes? Leaks and drips from the boiler tank are common in older boilers. Over time, a boiler can rust, leading to parts of the boiler failing. A faulty boiler leaking or dripping may be caused by old parts, aging seals, the pressure gauge being set too high, or corroded pipes. Frozen Condensate Pipe Frozen condensing boilers are a common issue. This boiler system has a condensate pipe that removes extra gas the boiler generates. When it is below freezing outdoors, the boiler condensate pipe is more likely to freeze, which could cause a blockage. You may resolve the matter by defrosting the boiler’s condensate pipe. Uneven Heat Distribution You may notice that the boiler system is not distributing heat evenly in the building. Certain spaces could have cold spots and others could be too warm. Uneven heat production and distribution may simply be a matter of adjusting the boiler zone control settings. Radiators Won’t Heat Your central heating system might run on radiators. If the radiators are not heating, the building will be cold. You may notice that the radiator isn’t heating as it should if the bottom is hot and the top is cold. This could be because grime and sludge are building up in the boiler’s transfer area. Or, your radiators could be off-balance. If the radiator is cold, you could fix the problem by bleeding your system to reset it. Or, consider calling a repair professional to resolve the issue. Boiler Shuts Off Automatically There are several reasons the boiler could shut off automatically. Perhaps the thermostat is not working correctly. Or, there could be air pressure loss, damage to the pump, or a blockage in the valve. Thermostat Issues The boiler’s thermostat keeps the right temperature for the hot water and heat in the building. When the thermostat reads an incorrect temperature, it may need to be replaced. A thermostat can age over the years on an old...
read moreHow Much Is Boiler Replacement?
How much does it cost to replace a boiler in a commercial building? Boilers are an essential part of many commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties. But if a boiler is malfunctioning, you want to know the costs of new boiler installation and other expenses. Atlas Welding & Boiler Repair Inc. is a top commercial and multifamily property boiler service company. Our experienced and reliable team specializes in boiler repair, cleaning, inspection, welding, and fabrication for commercial properties. We have an excellent reputation for reliability, quality, and exceptional service. In addition to boiler replacement costs, you will learn about the types of boilers and fuel types below. Contact us at (718) 293-3300 for a free estimate if you have questions or need boiler installation or service assistance. How Much Would It Cost To Replace A Boiler? The average cost to replace an old boiler in a commercial building is between $10,000 to more than $50,000. However, there are some oil boilers and gas boilers for commercial uses that may be under $10,000. Wood boilers can cost over $10,000, but electric boilers may only cost a few thousand dollars. A boiler uses British Thermal Units (BTUs) to determine the size. Note that older boilers typically have a heat efficiency rate between 56% and 70%, while new ones have a 95% to 97% heat efficiency rate. Factors that influence what a commercial boiler will cost are: Boiler type and size: Every type mentioned above has differing installation requirements and costs. The size of your building, water heating demands, and hot water requirements also will affect the price. Complexity of the boiler installation: If the new commercial boiler needs modifications to ductwork or piping, there will be more labor and materials that increase the cost. Labor and material expenses: These costs depend on the location where the boiler will be installed. Boiler Costs Depend On The Type Overall, boiler replacement cost is based on capacity, the type of fuel, system, and labor prices in your city. Commercial boilers are usually between 350,000 to 1,000,000 BTUs. Your building could have more than one boiler, too. Further, boilers may be classified according to the quantity of storage tanks and how the water is heated. Usually, there are system boilers, conventional boilers, and combination boilers. A system and conventional boiler create heat with steam or hot water. There are also condensing and non-condensing boilers. The type of boiler depends on the environment. You can choose a standard model or a high-efficiency boiler. Other options include: Conventional Boiler A conventional boiler holds water in two tanks. One tank is for the hot water and the other is for the cold water that has yet to be heated. Conventional units have higher boiler installation costs. However, the boiler cost in this situation is worth it because the unit is excellent for a big building; a large boiler with a high boiler capacity can hold more water and heat. However, a conventional boiler makes hot water to heat the building, not for the faucets or bathtub. In this case, a separate water heater is needed. Combi Boilers Combi or combination boilers are both water heaters and boilers. Rather than having hot water in a storage tank, the combi boiler heats water as it passes through the boiler. This means...
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