Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend annual seasonal tune-ups before the heating and cooling seasons, and full boiler servicing (internal cleaning and descaling) every 3–5 years depending on water quality. Properties with hard water or high sediment loads may need more frequent servicing.

Properties on a maintenance contract receive bundled tune-ups at a discount and benefit from coordinated scheduling.

Steam systems: Boiler heats water to steam (above 212°F at sea level), steam travels through pipes to radiators, and condenses back to liquid in the radiator, releasing latent heat. Steam systems reach higher temperatures and were common in pre-1960s buildings.

Hot-water systems: Boiler heats water to 180–200°F, circulates it through a closed loop with pumps, distributes it to radiators. Hot-water systems are more efficient, better for zoning, and common in post-1960s buildings.

Cold rooms are usually caused by one of three problems: (1) pressure imbalance—near radiators are receiving too much water and starving far radiators; (2) a failing trap (steam) or thermostatic valve (hot water); or (3) a closed or partially closed zone valve or manual isolation valve.

We diagnose this with pressure measurements at each radiator and can fix it with balancing, trap replacement, or valve adjustment.

A boiler built between 1930 and 1970, if properly maintained with seasonal tune-ups and sediment flushing, can run 40–60+ years. Boilers that receive only reactive (emergency) repairs typically fail after 15–25 years. Modern boilers, depending on type and use, run 20–35 years.

Preventative maintenance is the biggest determinant of longevity.

Replace when: (1) the boiler is unreliable and repair costs exceed $3,000–$4,000; (2) efficiency has dropped below 60% and heating costs are 50% above comparable homes; (3) the building's thermal requirements have changed; or (4) your occupants have specific health or comfort needs the boiler cannot meet.

Age alone is not a reason. A 50-year-old boiler in good condition and running 75% efficient is better than a 15-year-old boiler at 65% efficiency.

A seasonal tune-up includes boiler inspection, combustion analysis, thermostat calibration, radiator flow testing, pressure and relief-valve verification, sediment sampling, and a written report with temperature and pressure readings. You receive documentation of system performance and recommendations for any follow-up work.

Yes, for steam systems—air must be removed from radiators for steam to enter and heat them. Each radiator has an airbleed valve (a small automatic or manual vent) that lets air escape as steam enters. For hot-water systems, automatic air vents at high points in the piping do the same job. If air gets trapped, radiators stay cold. Radiator service includes checking and maintaining these vents.

You can, but it requires significant work—adding ductwork, removing radiators, and running new supply and return lines. For many older buildings, it's less disruptive and less expensive to keep radiators and install a high-efficiency boiler or heat pump.

If you're curious, retrofit planning can evaluate furnace conversion as an option alongside other approaches.

Maintenance: Scheduled, preventative work (seasonal tune-ups, annual inspections, sediment flushing) that keeps systems operating efficiently and identifies problems before they cause failure.

Repair: Fixing something that has failed or is not working (replacing a trap, fixing a leak, diagnosing a shutdown). Repairs are often more expensive and disruptive than the maintenance that would have prevented them.

We serve New England mill towns and historic neighborhoods in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, based from New Bedford, MA. Contact us with your location and we'll confirm service availability and response times.

Our Annual Contract includes two seasonal tune-ups (pre-winter and pre-summer) plus one full annual inspection for $995/year. Premium Contract adds quarterly tune-ups, semi-annual inspections, and 20% discount on emergency calls for $1,895/year.

Both contracts include priority scheduling during peak demand (October and May).

$275 service call charge covers dispatch and 30 minutes of diagnostic time. Any additional labor or parts are billed at standard rates. Emergency calls after 10 p.m. or before 6 a.m. include a $75 night surcharge.

Winter (November–March) emergency dispatch is 24/7. Outside winter months, we offer a 4-hour response commitment.