Calray Gas Heat

571 Timpson Place Bronx, NY 10455

Phone: 212-722-5506

Contact us on email!

Published on
October 7th, 2021

How to Prepare Your Boiler for Winter: Pro Boiler Maintenance Tips for NYC Cold Weather

It may be the beginning of autumn here in New York City, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the heating season, which will be here before we know it. If you are a property owner or manager, it’s essential that you know how to prepare your boiler for winter. Here are the top tips from the experts at Calray Boilers. We always advise clients to get ahead of the game. That way, if they need a part serviced or replaced, they have plenty of time before those radiators start filling with steam.

Your Boiler Maintenance Checklist

Check gauges and sights

All the gauges and sights glasses on your boiler should be working properly and easy to read. Over time, they can get cloudy with dust and grime, so give them a wipe.

You need to have the correct running pressure to produce adequate steam with your boiler. The owner’s manual should indicate the proper pressure, which you should test prior to the heating season. If the pressure is too high, shut down the boiler until it can be professionally serviced, as this is a real danger.

Assess for leaks

It’s easy to become complacent about small leaks, but these indicate something is loose or worn with the boiler, either with the piping system or the tank itself. Check the following to make sure no water is escaping:

  • The boiler tank, looking for corroded spots that might have worn through
  • Pipes and all pipe fittings or connectors
  • Gaskets, O-rings, and seals, looking for cracking, hardening, or misshaping

Make sure valves are functioning properly

We often find blockages in valves due to the buildup of hard water scale and sediment. Fall is an opportune time to clean the valves and replace any that you cannot restore. Vinegar and lemon juice, which are acidic, can dissolve reasonable amounts of limescale.

If you continually have problems with buildup in your boiler system, it’s an indicator that an upstream filtration system is needed to screen out unwanted elements from your boiler water. This will help your boiler run more smoothly and extend its lifespan. You may also need to treat your boiler water if it’s being used in a closed steam system to eliminate hard water buildup in your steam traps, pipes, and radiators.

Evaluate burners and other combustion elements

Your boiler flame should always burn blue. If it looks yellow, it’s usually a sign of incomplete combustion, which could be producing carbon monoxide in your boiler room. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer because it is taken up very quickly by the body before people even realize it.

Yellow flame usually means there are some blockages around your burner. Another sign of incomplete combustion is a heavy layer of soot around the burner area.

Test pumps

You likely have a variety of pumps for various functions, such as feeding the boiler, distributing hot water to taps, and steam return. These should all be functioning correctly with no unusual or loud noises or excess vibration. Tighten any mounting straps or hardware as needed.

Additionally, check the electrical connections for all your pumps and pump controllers. Check for:

  • Worn or frayed wires
  • Broken or partially melted plugs
  • Pumps that trigger circuit breakers or cause flickering lights

As with elsewhere in your boiler system, any pump seals and gaskets should fit snugly and still have good elasticity. Sensors and float rods that tell your pumps when to run should be in good working order and not stuck or broken.

If you have pumps shutting down frequently due to overheating, it may be because your boiler room is too hot. Better ventilation can cool the room and prevent this.

Clear the exhaust system and vents

Flues, exhaust pipes, and vents must also be clear. Check for the buildup of any unwanted material or blockages created by birds, rodents, or trash. A blockage in any of these conduits can reduce your boiler’s efficiency as well as pose a risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Don’t forget steam traps

If your building has steam returns from unit radiators, your steam trap system needs to be running smoothly too. Otherwise, your boiler will continue to fill with fresh water, which needs to be heated from a cold temperature. This will cost you more money over time. A properly running steam return system can extend the life of your boiler by helping it run more efficiently. Signs your return system needs service include excess hard water buildup, blockages, or your boiler continually filling and firing when it should simply be recycling warm condensate.

Double check safety features and alarms

Your boiler system safety alarms and alerts are perhaps the most vital part of the boiler room. Your owner’s manual will indicate what safety elements are in place with your particular boiler model. Double check that all of these are working, especially your pressure relief valve.

Your boiler room should be outfitted with the required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure these are operational and be sure to do at least monthly battery checks if they are not hard-wired.

Call Calray Boilers for Professional Service

When you can’t solve the problem on your own

We understand there are limits to what even experienced property managers can do themselves when their boiler needs fixing, especially if new parts are involved. We’re happy to come out and assist with any repairs that are out of your wheelhouse.

Also, we recommend professional service at least once a year, and in many cases twice yearly, to ensure your boiler has an expert once-over before or after the heating season. Calray Boilers offers annual service contracts to make this easier and to ensure your boiler is operating optimally 12 months of the year. Our partners at Sanitary Plumbing can help with radiator and piping issues, and Antler Pumps can assist with any pump problems that crop up too.

Call us at 212-722-5506, or use our convenient online form to schedule an appointment.


Article from

Our Privacy Policy

Calray Gas Heat Corporation (the “Company”) strives to ensure the highest standards for property listings and customer information privacy. Please review the following statement to learn about our company practices and policies. Please be aware that our Privacy Policy is subject to change at any time.

1. Purpose.

This Privacy Policy (“the Policy”) provides information on how the Company uses your personal information. By agreeing to the Policy, you agree to our collection and use of your personal information as described in the Policy. This Privacy Policy is effective for all new users of Sanitaryplumbing.com.

2. Personal Information.

You can browse some areas of Calray.nyc (“the Website”) without being a registered user. However, certain activities do require registration. (You consent to the transfer and storage of your information by registering with Calray.nyc) We may collect and store the following personal information:

  • Name, email, address, telephone number, and (depending on the service used), move-in dates;
  • Transactional information (such as lease terms, lease parties);
  • Computer sign-on data, statistics on page views, and traffic to and from the Website; and
  • Other information, including IP address and other web log information.

3. Use of Information.

Our primary purpose in collecting personal information is to provide you with a safe and user-friendly experience. For example, the Company may use your personal information to:

  • Improve our services and the Website’s content and layout;
  • Provide the services and necessary customer support you request;
  • Resolve disputes, collect fees, and troubleshoot problems;
  • Track and record customer satisfaction with our services;
  • Protect the Company against error and fraud;
  • Inform you of special promotions and announcements;
  • Enforce our agreements, terms, conditions, and policies; and
  • As otherwise described to you at the time of collection.

We may occasionally ask you to complete optional surveys. These surveys are used to improve and customize your experience with Sanitaryplumbing.com.

The Company always provides you the ability to opt-out of further communication such as promotions and surveys; see the Opt-Out section below.

The Company does not share any of your personal information with outside organizations, companies, individuals, etc. The only exception to this standard is if such a disclosure is reasonably necessary to respond to any and all legal processes.

4. Links to Other Sites.

The Website may have links to other websites that may collect personally identifiable information about you. The Company is not responsible for the privacy practices of the content of those linked websites.

5. Safety & Security Precautions.

The Website has strict security measures in place to protect you and your information from fraud. Once your information is provided to Calray Gas Heat Corporation, we strive to ensure the confidentiality of your identity and information.

6. Opt-Out.

The Company provides you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving promotional and other non-essential, marketing-related communications from Calray Gas Heat Corporation. If you would like to opt-out of these select communications, please see any of the Company’s email communications and follow the directions indicated.

7. Account Protection.

Your password ensures the security of your account. When choosing a password, the Company suggests using various characters. It is highly recommended that you do not disclose your Sanitaryplumbing.com password to anyone. (If you do disclose your password or your personal information with others, you are responsible for all actions taken in the name of your account.) If the security of your password is compromised for any reason, please contact the Company immediately.

8. Accuracy of Information

The Company does not guarantee the accuracy of information for any and all of its properties on the Website, and is not responsible for any errors or misrepresentations (made by Renters, the Client, or otherwise).

9. Cookies

The Company may place a small cookie on your computer’s hard drive. This allows us to personalize your use on the Website. In order to maximize the functionality and usability of the Website, you must set your browser’s preferences to allow both permanent and temporary cookies.

10. Changing Your Personal Information.

Should your personal information change, please immediately update your information on the Website. This will ensure the accuracy of our records. The Company does retain personal information from closed accounts in order to comply with law and collect and disburse any fees owed.

11. Third Parties

This Privacy Policy addresses only the use of information we collect from you. Since Calray.nyc does not control the privacy policies of third parties, you are subject to the privacy policies of those third parties. It is advisable that you consult with the management of third parties before you disclose your personal information to others.

12. General

We may amend this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the amended terms on the Website. All amended terms are immediately effective after they are initially posted on the Website.

13. Privacy Policy Questions & Concerns

Questions and/or concerns regarding the Policy should be emailed to the following email address: info@calray.nyc