Cold radiators usually mean trapped air
Steam can't get into a radiator that's full of air. The air vents on each radiator let air out so steam can enter — when they fail (clogged or stuck closed), that radiator stays cold. If a whole floor is cold, it's often the vents, not the boiler. Replacing failed air vents is one of the most common and effective steam maintenance jobs.
Short-cycling usually means a water-level problem
If the boiler clicks on and off every few minutes, the low-water cutoff is likely triggering — either the water level is genuinely low (a leak or a feed problem) or the cutoff is fouled with sediment and reading falsely. Either way, it's a maintenance item, and ignoring it stresses the boiler and wastes fuel.
- •Cold radiators: check and replace failed air vents
- •Short-cycling: check water level and clean the low-water cutoff
- •Uneven heat across floors: vent the whole system
- •Any of these: a seasonal cleaning usually clears them up
Call before the cold snap
These are exactly the problems that show up the first cold week of the season — when everyone's calling at once. A maintenance visit before the heating season catches them while it's a short job, not an emergency. Call and tell me what the heat's doing.
Have a plumbing issue right now?
Call and leave a voicemail — Bob calls back during business hours. For the fastest reply (usually within the hour), email him directly.