A Brief Guide to Boilers from Manassas Plumbers

Manassas plumbers are famous for their extensive knowledge of boilers (or hot water heaters as you might better know them) and their long-running ability to know the exact moment in time a boiler needs replacing. They say it’s a gift passed down through generations of tradesmen. There’s a well-worn saying in the industry that goes: “A good plumber can smell a dead boiler from 10 kilometres away.” And in many ways this is true. In fact, this is simply just true.

What is a boiler?

Ask any certified expert what a boiler “is” and they’ll be able to tell you without even blinking. You want detail? I hope you’re prepared for an onslaught boiler-related detail like nothing you’ve seen before.

A boiler is an intrinsic ingredient in a modern day household’s heating system. Contrary to popular belief, the fluid (usually water) inside a boiler does not necessarily “boil”. Instead, the contained fluid heats up a residential or commercial property to an optimum temperature governed by a series of interconnected pipes, which distribute to a variety of radiators found in each room of the building controlled by a thermostat. When maintained efficiently by your friendly local Manassas plumbers, a boiler can last for many years.

Tell me more…

There are two types of boiler: hot water and steam. A hot water boiler is more common. It is small unit requiring low maintenance. It can heat water up to 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. The heated water circulates the building, heating up a radiator in each room. Once cool, the water retreats to the boiler to start the process again.

A steam boiler is less common - and a hundred times more complex to the untrained eye. Fortunately for the layman, Manassas plumbers are experts in the field of steam boilers. These are found in older homes that haven’t made the conversion to hot water and operate with a system of pressure gauges, valves, automatic feeds and special gauge glass. Steam heat is created from water heated by gas, oil or electric boilers. It then travels through a system of pipes and radiators or convectors, whereby the steam ends its journey as a gas and transforms back into water inside the boiler.

No boiler fault is too much for the Manassas plumbers’ elite workforce. Whether at home or in the office, they can fix your boiler and have your central heating circulating again in no time at all - except for the brief period in time they spend fixing it of course.

If you’ve had your boiler for 10 years or more, it may need replacing. Always check your warrantee before calling on a professional in. If your gas heater stops working it may be a simple case of relighting your pilot light. Failing that, one of the many on-call Manassas plumbers would be happy to help for a minimal service charge.

Sarah Saadoun works for HMS Plumbing, a family-owned business in Manassas, Northern Virginia. If you need Manassas plumbers, Herve and his dedicated employees at HMS are proud to be serving the plumbing needs of Northern Virginia residents and businesses. For reliable Fairfax plumbers HMS Plumbing is your first choice.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.