Winter has arrived! The sun sets earlier, leaves are falling, and the smell of wood smoke permeates the air. Before you put on your favorite sweater and turn your thermostat from “Cool” to “Heat” –  are you the kind of person who switches on the thermostat with fingers crossed, hoping your boiler will kick into action? Proactively scheduling boiler maintenance might seem like an unnecessary expense. Your heater worked last winter, right? However, skipping regular boiler maintenance can create a situation where your boiler is beyond repair and needs to be replaced. This can cost upwards of $3,200 – $7,800. Who wants that ghastly expense when all you wanted to do was cozy up on the couch with a cup of cocoa and weather the storm?

The average price to service a boiler is between $175 and $275, depending on the type of boiler you have and what kind of work/repair the technician needs to do.  Keep in mind that the service may cost a bit more if a problem is discovered and needs to be repaired. Even so, it is much better to discover a problem before you need heat, than late on a Saturday night when your house is uncomfortably chilly! How can you make sure your boiler maintenance is performed correctly, and you aren’t getting ripped off?  Here are a few pointers:

• Ask your family, friends, neighbors, etc…for reputable heating companies
• Ask the heating companies your are interested in for some personal references so you can ensure their work is up to par or check internet reviews.
• The heating contractor will spend a reasonable amount of time for a thorough visit (i.e. more than 30 minutes but not too much more than an hour if there isn’t a problem)
• Routine service includes things like checking the flame/pilot is operating correctly, inspecting wiring, assuring correct ventilation, checking that a sealed system is at its correct pressure, dismantling & cleaning of pilot assembly/gas injectors, etc.

However you choose to go about finding your heating contractor, regular boiler maintenance ensures that when winter arrives, you can sigh with relief as your boiler will be in perfect working order every time.