Boilers can potentially pose significant risks to your northern Utah home or business!
Boilers are essential HVAC components for countless homes and businesses throughout northern Utah, and this is because they provide hot water and heat during our harsh winters. However, it’s important to remember that boiler systems involve high pressure and water temperatures, which can potentially create safety precautions.
At Beehive Heating & Air, we want all of our clients to fully understand potential boiler hazards so that they can avoid them through proper operations and maintenance plans. When boilers are functioning correctly, they’re definitely very safe. The big issues arise when people lack awareness about boiler dangers, or are negligent with their HVAC maintenance.
The harsh truth is that there are some inherent risks associated with unchecked boilers, but our renowned technicians are here to prevent these accidents from ever occurring. Below we’ll be delving deeper into the most common boiler safety hazards that you should know about!
Boiler Explosions
Arguably the worst thing that could happen to your home’s boiler is an accidental explosion, and these scary scenarios happen when high amounts of pressure build up within a boiler for far too long. Although boiler explosions are very rare in 2024, they can still happen today when your system’s pressure isn’t correctly regulated or when your boiler experiences a safety valve failure.
These explosions can cause significant property damages and even impose injuries on household members, but regular inspections and maintenance can significantly reduce your overall risks of experiencing a boiler explosion.
These appointments can help you identify any cracks, corrosion or other boiler defects long before they create a system failure, and all building codes throughout northern Utah require boilers to include an emergency pressure relief valve to avoid dangerous pressure buildups.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Another scary danger connected to boilers is carbon monoxide poisoning. This type of risk is connected to boilers that run on natural gas, because carbon monoxide can potentially leak from these systems when they’re not adjusted properly. What’s particularly alarming about carbon monoxide is that it’s odorless and invisible, which makes it difficult to detect.
Although carbon monoxide poisoning is rare, it’s certainly not an impossibility for your northern Utah property. This why you can never take risks when it comes to carbon monoxide leaks, and our technicians can check for leak warning signs during annual inspections and system tune-ups.
You should also make sure that you have carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home as well, including near your boiler!
Burns
Boiler systems create high-temperature water and steam, which can potentially cause significant burn injuries. Baseboard heating units and hot water pipes connected to your property’s boiler can often reach scalding temperatures, so any direct contact with your boiler’s internal piping or heat exchanger can undoubtedly burn anyone’s skin within a matter of seconds.
This is one reason why it’s so important to thoroughly insulate any exposed pipes throughout your entire plumbing system, and it’s also advised that you regularly double-check your baseboard heaters. Parents should also make sure that they keep children away from boilers.
Electrocutions
Just like any other major household appliance, boilers involve wiring and electricity that can create electrocution risks when improperly maintained or installed.
Faulty electrical components and water leaks can create very dangerous electrocution hazards, and this is why it’s so crucial to partner up with HVAC specialists that also have many years of experience working with both residential and commercial electrical systems.
Fires
Boiler systems also pose potential fire hazards, and this is simply due to the combination of electricity, gas and high temperatures that are necessary for these systems to function. Faulty electrical components, fuel leaks and system overheating can all cause fires to catch.
This is why you’ll need experienced HVAC technicians to regularly inspect and clean you boiler system on your behalf, because we’ll be able to recognize and alleviate the early warning signs of alarming blockages that can lead to overheating and potential fires.
Mold & Water Leaks
Boiler leaks can rather quickly release a ton of hot water throughout your property, and this can lead to structural damages and even mold development.
This is why it’s so crucial to detect water leaks within your system’s heat exchanger, pipes, valves, pumps and fittings as early as possible. Annual HVAC inspections also allow you to address any lingering problems long before they get out of hand.
Boiler Equipment Failures
Like other appliances, boilers have many different components that will eventually wear down over long periods of time. Things like pressure valves, ignition controls, circulation pumps and heat exchangers will eventually fail, which can leave you without heating or hot water during our harsh winter seasons.
Replacing faulty parts before they fail is crucial for your boiler system’s overall functionality, and this is why most boiler manufacturers provide replacement schedule recommendations and likely component lifespans.
However, we understand how you might not be keeping track of your boiler component longevity, which is why our specialists will thoroughly evaluate these vital components during maintenance and repair appointments.
Schedule A Boiler Maintenance Appointment With Our Seasoned Specialists Today!
There’s absolutely no reason why you should leave your household vulnerable to hidden boiler dangers and wait around for emergency situations to pop up, and scheduling a maintenance visit with our technicians will get your questions and concerns answered while ensuring the durability of your entire HVAC system.
Beehive Heating & Air provides so much more than just boiler maintenance and repairs, and we’ve been there for countless home and business owners throughout Salt Lake City and the entire northern Utah region for over 20 years. So no matter what issues come up within your property’s HVAC system, you can count on our experts to provide prompt and affordable services on your behalf.
Contact us online or call us at 801-849-3883 to schedule your next boiler maintenance appointment today!