Maintaining Hydronic Heating Systems in the Winter
Hydronic heating systems are an excellent way to provide heat to your home during the cold winter months. It’s easy to see why when you look at the benefits. Boilers, for example, offer an enclosed system that minimizes dust and allergens in your home while providing moisture and residual heat from the pipes running through various parts of the home. Not only that, a boiler can heat your water, too. Radiant floor heating is another example of a beneficial use for hydronic heating systems. Once popular for warming up chilly bathrooms, heated floors have grown in popularity as a boost to home heating.
However, hydronic heating systems have a unique set of challenges that can cause issues, especially in the winter months. Let’s take a look at some common winter problems, plus tips for winterizing your boiler and other hydronic heating systems.
Common Winter Boiler Issues
Anytime you have a water-powered system, you need to be careful to protect your home from damage. Common problems with hydronic heating systems include:
Leaking at Pipe Connections or Broken Pipes
All pipes have the potential to leak. Owning a hydronic heating system just means you have more pipes to worry about. However, professional installation and regular maintenance can ensure you reduce your risk of leaks in your boiler system or radiant flooring. Keep an eye out for moisture build-up, soft spots in your flooring, weeping walls or standing water.
Low Pressure
Hydronic heaters systems can lose water over time. Natural evaporation is usually the culprit, but leaks can also reduce water pressure. Hydronic heating systems typically have an auto-fill that adds water and maintains pressure. If your system has low pressure, you may have a large leak or an issue with your auto-fill valve.
Loss of Heat
You probably dread the idea of waking up to find your heating system (and your house) is no longer warm. The factors that cause your system to lose heat can range from something simple like a broken thermostat to much more complex issues like clogs or problems with fuel. If the boiler stops putting out heat, or your flooring remains ice cold, it’s important to call in a professional to help diagnose the problem.
Freezing Pipes
Like your regular plumbing, hydronic pipes are vulnerable to freezing. How, you ask? Aren’t they supposed to be hot? If they are turned on or the heat is working, yes. If you get caught by a deep freeze without the heat source running, your pipes become at risk of freezing. Your plumbing will also be at risk of freezing without heat, so it’s a double challenge.
Noisy Operation
Hissing, gurgling, whirring, buzzing, whooshing … none of these sounds are a great sign when it comes to hydronic heating. Like loss of heat, a noisy boiler has many potential causes and it usually takes an HVAC professional to troubleshoot the real issue. If you notice these issues, it’s a good idea to place a service call before they worsen.
Corrosion
Corrosion can occur due to water quality, fuel issues, water temperature and the location of your hydronic heating system. It is an incredibly important problem to address because it cannot be repaired. Corroded parts need to be replaced and the longer you let the problem fester, the more parts that will need replacing.
How to Prevent Hydronic Heating Issues in the Winter
While you can’t stop every problem from happening, taking a proactive approach to hydronics maintenance can go a long way toward protecting your systems over the winter.
- Have your boiler serviced regularly, but especially before the winter season. Inspections and tune-ups are the easiest way to keep your boiler or hydronic heating system in optimal condition. Regular inspections and tune-ups help you be proactive about solving problems before your system is working overtime. A licensed technician will:
- Look for leaks
- Check pressure
- Inspect fuel source
- Inspect ventilation
- Note any potential issues with corrosion
- Diagnose any potential problems
In addition to enlisting the help of a professional, there are steps you can take at home to prepare your system for winter and keep it protected.
- Turn your boiler heating system on periodically, even in the summer. Do the same with hydronic floor heating or any other hydronic systems. This maintains your pressure and keeps water moving properly in the pipes.
- Inspect your pipes and boiler periodically. Look for leaks, mold, mildew and moisture in odd locations. Don’t just turn it on and hope for the best. Set an appointment to check it at least monthly. It’s just like replacing a furnace filter.
- Protect your pipes. Insulate any external piping and any piping that can be exposed to extreme temperatures, like an uninsulated basement or an exterior wall.
- Do not turn off your boiler while on vacation. Your boiler is your heat source and therefore needs to remain on to protect itself and the rest of your home. One good cold snap while you are traveling can become an entire house of burst pipes.
Start Preparing Your Boiler and Other Hydronic Systems for Winter
Hydronic heating is an energy efficient way to heat your home. Keep your system up and running by following our helpful tips for preparation and maintenance. And if you need help, Flow Right is just a phone call away. Our hydronics experts can help keep you safe, sound and warm this winter.