Steam boilers
A steam system carries vapor through pipes up to the radiators. When it misbehaves you may hear knocking, see vents spitting, notice uneven rooms or find the boiler shutting itself down. Each one is a reason to call us.
Boiler and Radiator Repair in the Capital Region
A cold radiator, a boiler that leaks, hisses or won’t fire. Steam and hot-water boilers, radiators and baseboard heat are what 518 Heating takes calls about.
An older house here may heat with a boiler and radiators. A technician visits, finds the fault and explains it in plain words. There is no charge for the call.
Boiler and radiator problems
Hot-water boilers
With hot water heat, the boiler warms the water and sends it around to your radiators or baseboard. A zone that never warms, noisy pipes, odd pressure or a damp relief pipe means someone should come out.
Leaks
You find a damp patch by the boiler, a pool under a radiator or a wet pipe. Where the water comes from, and how to stop it, is for the technician to work out.
A boiler that won’t fire
The house gets cold and the boiler stays silent, or the burner starts and quits. With a gas or an oil boiler alike, the technician looks for the underlying reason.
Older homes, older boilers
Housing age matters for boilers. More than 5 in every 10 homes in Albany predate 1950, and nearly 6 in every 10 in Schenectady and in Troy. A house like that may still run on a steam or hot-water boiler and radiators.
On the visit
Expect a diagnosis in plain words. The technician tests the burner and controls and follows how heat moves through the rooms, then explains the fault and gives you a free quote.
If the boiler is nearly finished, the technician explains what a new one would involve. The decision belongs to you.
Who does the work
In Albany, plumbing work is licensed by the city’s Examining Board of Plumbers. Before the job starts, ask who holds the license.
Frequently asked questions
Do you take calls about steam systems as well as hot water?
We do. A boiler that makes steam and one that heats water are both welcome, and the call costs nothing.
Rooms that keep getting colder belong with emergency heating repair, which is the page we would read first. Visitors who want something different can go back to the home page.
Call us for a free quote
Describe how the radiators behave and, if you can, whether the boiler makes steam or heats water. There is no fee for calling or for the quote.
Call (866) 661-2784