Heating · Boilers
Boiler heat, kept running by people who still like working on it
Plenty of the older homes in Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, Worthington and Clintonville-area Columbus still heat with radiators. We service hot water and steam boilers, and we install high-efficiency replacements when the old one is done.
Signs your boiler needs attention
- Some radiators are cold while others are hot, or the top of a radiator stays cool.
- Banging, knocking or gurgling in the pipes, especially on steam systems.
- Water around the boiler, or a pressure relief valve that drips.
- The pressure gauge on a hot water boiler reads well above or below its usual mark (most run around 12 to 15 psi when cold).
- You're adding water often to a steam boiler, which can mean a leak somewhere in the system.
- A pilot that won't stay lit, or the burner short-cycles.
- It's 25 or more years old. Many old cast iron boilers run for decades, but they're far less efficient than modern equipment.
What we do on the visit
- Safety first. We check for gas leaks, carbon monoxide and proper venting, and test the low-water cutoff and relief valve.
- Check the system, not just the boiler. Circulator pumps, expansion tank, zone valves, air vents, steam traps and the near-boiler piping.
- Diagnose and quote. You get a written price before repairs. The $89 service call is applied to the work.
- Repair and balance. Bleed air from radiators, adjust pressure, and make sure every room gets its share of the heat.
Options and posted prices
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic / service call | $89, applied to the repair | Hot water and steam, most makes |
| Boiler tune-up | $159 | Burner cleaning, combustion test, safety controls, system check; included in the Comfort Club |
| Boiler replacement | from $7,200 | High-efficiency hot water boiler, installed, with permit and removal of the old unit |
| Steam boiler replacement | Quoted on site | Sized by measuring every radiator in the house |
| Combination boiler (heat + hot water) | Quoted on site | Can replace both your boiler and your water heater |
The Comfort Club's fall heating tune-up covers boilers too, and members get 15% off every repair, no after-hours fees and priority scheduling. New systems carry the K&D Promise: 10 years parts, 2 years labor. Financing is available, as low as $79/month with approved credit and 0% for 18 months on systems over $5,000.
Replacing an old boiler
Modern condensing boilers are wall-mounted, quiet and dramatically more efficient than the cast iron giant that's probably in your basement. They adjust their output to the weather outside, so they aren't running full blast on a 45°F November afternoon. You keep your radiators; we change the heart of the system.
Steam systems are different. Most steam homes are best served by a new, properly sized steam boiler, because converting to hot water means changing piping and sometimes radiators. We'll explain the trade-offs honestly. High-efficiency boilers may qualify for utility rebates; ask what's current when we quote.
Keeping an old boiler happy
A yearly tune-up before the heating season is the single best thing you can do for a boiler. Between visits, keep the area around it clear, don't cover radiators with furniture or heavy curtains, and glance at the pressure gauge or sight glass every couple of weeks in winter so you know what normal looks like. On steam systems, a radiator that hisses steam constantly usually has a failed air vent, a cheap part that's worth replacing before it wastes fuel all season.
How long it takes
A tune-up takes about 90 minutes. Most repairs are done in one visit. A boiler replacement usually takes two to three days, depending on piping and venting, and we'll schedule it outside the coldest weeks when we can. If it can't wait, we'll keep you warm with loaner electric heaters while we work.
What you can do right now
If you smell gas or your CO alarm sounds: get everyone outside without flipping switches or using your phone indoors, and call your gas utility's emergency number or 911 from outside. No heat, no gas smell? Check the thermostat and its batteries, the boiler's power switch and breaker, and the pressure gauge. On a steam boiler, check the sight glass: if there's no water visible, don't add water to a hot boiler. Switch it off, let it cool, and call us. If a relief valve is spraying water, switch the boiler off and call right away.
Cold radiators? Call (614) 555-0187, day or night.
Boiler questions
Can I add central air to a boiler house?
Yes. Ductless mini-splits are usually the cleanest way, and a heat pump mini-split can supplement your boiler in spring and fall, too.
Should I bleed my radiators?
On a hot water system, yes, once a year or whenever a radiator is cold at the top. Use a radiator key, hold a rag under the valve, and close it when water appears. Steam radiators don't need bleeding, but their air vents can fail.
Do you work on old steam systems?
We do, and we enjoy it. Not every company will.