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An unsafe hot-water boiler, shut down before it got worse.
After a power outage, a Richmond apartment building lost hot water. The boiler turned out to be badly sooted and unsafe, so we shut it down, locked off the gas, and left the building a quote for a replacement.
A gas valve problem, then a much bigger one.
The boiler wouldn’t light after the outage. The pilot sparked but got no gas. We traced it to the gas valve, which had power but wasn’t passing it to the burner, and replaced it.
When the new valve opened, flame rolled out of the boiler, so we shut the gas off immediately. On closer inspection the boiler was so sooted it was effectively blocked, the casing above the burner was crumbling into the heat exchanger, the controls showed signs of repeated flame damage, and the high-limit was set above boiling. The boiler was the only thing on the building’s gas, so we locked the gas off at the meter.
A replacement quote the building could plan around.
A boiler in that condition isn’t worth repairing. We gave the building a written quote to replace it, including the option of two commercial tankless water heaters working with the existing storage tank.
From a no-heat call to a clear plan.
We made it safe first, then gave the building its options in writing.
Diagnose
Trace the no-gas problem to the gas valve and replace it.Make it safe
Shut off and lock out the gas when the boiler proved unsafe.Explain
Show why the boiler shouldn’t be repaired and what the options are.Quote
Leave the building a written quote for the replacement.A safe building and a clear next step.
The unsafe boiler stayed off with the gas locked at the meter, and the building had a written replacement quote to review. We also flagged dryer vents running through the mechanical room that looked like a fire risk.
Gas valve problem traced and fixed
Flame roll-out caught and the gas shut off immediately
Gas locked off at the meter
Written replacement quote left with the building
Start with the problem. We will help plan the next step.
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