problem with boiler

Our steam heat boiler keeps shutting off, and we’re trying to figure out who we should call– this is our first winter as homeowners. It’s an old gas boiler, and it has a little motor attached to it that my husband tells me is “the blower for forced draft”– the problem seems to be with the blower (it keeps getting stuck in some way, and also has a cover that our contractor removed– when we put the cover back, the whole thing shuts down). We can generally get it started again, but it’s getting tiresome and we should have someone check it out. Anyway, should we call a plumber about this? Husband’s inclination was to call national grid, on the grounds that a plumber doesn’t seem like the right direction to go for a problem with a motor, but it sounds like people around here with steam heat systems usually call a plumber/ plumbing & heating company when their heat is not working. Any advice would be much appreciated. Also, specific recommendations for plumbers/ HVAC services/ whomever would be great.

suzy

in Heating 11 years and 6 months ago

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suzy | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Just wanted to check back in about B & D heating, recommended above– they were great. Early yesterday morning, the heat stopped working altogether– I called B & D, they came before noon, and it turned out that a whole bunch of things were wrong. We got a new burner and they replaced some kind of deteriorated insulating piece in the boiler (apparently the boiler was radiating an incredible amount of heat into the space around it, which probably cooked the motor– the motor was really old anyway). Everything was working smoothly by the time I put the kids to bed. It was not cheap, but it sure was fast and professional.

eman134 | 11 years and 6 months ago

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sounds like a vent inducer on the draft line is failing causing the spill switch to go off…your chimney is blocked up

Master Plvmber | 11 years and 6 months ago

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I haven’t encountered a decent “tech” at a utility since Brooklyn Union Gas.

biggles | 11 years and 6 months ago

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do not let NG into your house they work on gas lines and don’t know service or breakdown go local ask the neighbors….note that small fan is the first thing to run when the stat calls the boiler on…and runs with the entir cycle toheat the house if it shuts off the boiler shute off during a stat heating call

bk1lnite | 11 years and 6 months ago

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+1 for calling a plumbing & heating company. If you did sign up for the national grid plan, I’m sure they would exclude pre-existing conditions & wouldn’t come fix your problem right away. $300/year may buy some peace of mind, but I think it may be like buying the extended warranty on electronics at best buy. Replies to an old post on the natl grid plan are mostly negative… http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/forums/topic/anyone-on-the-homeserve-service-plan-formerly-national-grid-and-would-you-recommend-it/

steam_man | 11 years and 6 months ago

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No prob 😉

suzy | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Resident2, this sounds like dealing with Verizon’s attempts to fix my DSL (giving technician-of-the-week the history of the problem, hoping they wouldn’t just try the obvious solution the last three guys tried first…)– definitely do not want this with my heat. So a plumber it is!

suzy | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Thanks for the replies, Deva and Steam-man! So it sounds like– National Grid is less expensive (although I don’t know if we can sign on to their insurance plan when we’re currently not fully functional) but a plumbing/ heating place like Gateway or similar would probably do a better job.

resident2 | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Call a plumber of your choice. Someone that will get to know your boiler and building. With National Grid you will never get the same mechanic twice and like all old things it is best maintained by some one that knows it.

steam_man | 11 years and 6 months ago

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Don’t call National Grid. I repeat do not call National Grid. Call a plumbing and heating company. I can recommend Gateway and B&D Heating both.

deva | 11 years and 6 months ago

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I would get National Grid Heating maintenance plan. For $300 a year you get a guarantee that someone will come and look at it and will replace parts for free. Love that service and I know many people on this board do as well.