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LARGER VIEW of an octopus furnaceProcedures for Inspecting Hot Water Heating Boiler Systems - Hydronic Heat

Heating boiler inspection procedures & checklists:

This document presents the detailed sequence of steps to use when inspecting residential heating systems with focus on heating boilers and furnaces, on assuring completeness, accuracy, and on maximum heating system defect detection.

The heating system inspection methodology involved is intended to be generalized to the forensic diagnostic inspection of any complex system in order to have the highest probability of detecting important safety or operating defects.

This sounds fancier than intended. Our object is to use an organized procedure for inspecting for defects, without losing the ability to discover unexpected problems as well.

The methodology discussed includes both details specific to heating boilers (the full outline at "Contents") and more general complex-system inspection methods (listed immediately below).

© Copyright Daniel Friedman 2024-1993 all rights reserved -- Tri-State ASHI Seminar -- Last update 02/03/2024 - first presentation November 6-7, 1993

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Detailed Steps in the Sequence of Examination of Oil-Fired Hot Water Boilers

Viewpoint #4--Detailed close scrutiny of the equipment, after a few "sanity checks"
ASHI 9.1.A.1 The inspector shall observe ... heating equipment

Oil fired hot water heating boiler (C) Daniel Friedman

Article Contents

Inspect before operating the boiler

What are we looking at? Form a working Definition: A system which heats the house. A steel, copper, or cast iron "box" of hot water, connected to a loop of pipe (and radiators or baseboards) which runs around through the living area

. The same physical water stays in the boiler and is circulated by a pump so that heat is delivered to the living area.

Burning No. 2 home heating oil (or gas in a gas fired heating boiler) makes hot gases which are used to heat the water before being exhausted outside. Pumps move fluids. Safety controls at various points protect against a number of potential hazards.

We include links to detailed heating system articles that explain how boiler or furnace parts and components work, how to inspect or repair them, and description of common problems that occur with each heating system component.

Examine components in the sequence of operation

Training in proper operation sequence of the equipment and in the function of its controls is a step towards technical correctness

. If you do not understand how a mechanical system works you cannot reliably expect to observe missing or defective components. This discussion is an exercise using sequence of operation to work for completeness. It is not technically exhaustive, it focuses on a specific example: oil-fired hot water, zoned, heating system.

Examine the accessible parts of the system. Let your eye travel from component to component in the sequence of operation. Apply the inspection logic discussed earlier, at each step. Consider the implications should each component be missing, damaged, inoperative, leaky, noisy, sooty, repaired by an amateur, etc.

Think through the operating sequence as you examine each component in that order. The following are the steps in one common set-up. This list is lengthy and detailed. The actual visual examination may take only a few minutes.

The steps in a heating boiler operating sequence are discussed in detail

at BOILER OPERATING STEPS - the 39 steps in a hot water boiler operation when fueled by gas or oil.

Similar information is provided for warm air heating systems

at FURNACE OPERATION DETAILS.

Look closely at controls, peripherals, key components,

while going through the detailed sequence
ASHI 9.1.A.3 automatic safety controls

Leaks and Corrosion - some implications

Common Heating System Leak Locations

Examples of understanding function and implications:

...

Continue reading at FINAL BOILER/FURNACE ROOM INSPECTION CHECKS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

 

Suggested citation for this web page

HEATING BOILER INSPECTION GUIDE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to HEATING SYSTEMS

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Citations & References

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