Boiler & Tankless Water Heater Maintenance Guide

Boilers and tankless water heaters are efficient and long-lasting — but only with a little care. In Central New Jersey’s hard water, annual maintenance (especially descaling) is the difference between a unit that lasts 15+ years and one that fails early. Here’s how to keep yours running.

What you can do yourself

Boilers: check the pressure gauge — most residential boilers should sit around 12–15 psi when cool. Call us if it’s far off.
Look and listen for leaks, drips, or banging/“kettling” sounds and report them early.
Keep the area around the unit clear and make sure vents are unobstructed.
Tankless: clean the cold-water inlet filter/screen a few times a year.
Note any error codes on the display so we can diagnose faster.
Make sure carbon-monoxide detectors are working near any gas appliance.

Why descaling matters in New Jersey

Our area has hard water, which leaves mineral scale inside the heat exchanger. Scale makes the unit work harder, lose efficiency, run noisy, and eventually fail. A yearly descale/flush — especially for tankless units — is the most important maintenance you can do, and it’s a service we provide.

What a professional service includes

Descale/flush the heat exchanger (critical with hard water).
Test combustion and inspect the venting for safety.
Check the expansion tank, circulator pump, and pressure-relief valve (boilers).
Bleed air from the system and check for leaks.
Inspect gas pressure, controls, and safety devices.

When to schedule it

Once a year, ideally in early fall before the heating season. If you have no hot water, low or fluctuating temperatures, leaks, or an error code, call us right away.

Boiler & Tankless Maintenance — FAQs

How often should a boiler or tankless water heater be serviced?

Once a year. With New Jersey’s hard water, an annual descale/flush is especially important for tankless units to keep them efficient and under warranty.

What is descaling and do I need it?

Descaling flushes mineral buildup out of the heat exchanger. In our hard-water area it’s the single most valuable maintenance for tankless units and many boilers — it restores efficiency and prevents early failure.

Can I maintain my boiler myself?

You can monitor the pressure gauge, watch for leaks and noises, and keep the area clear. Descaling, combustion, gas, and safety-device work should be done by a licensed technician.