IF THERE'S A WINTER BLACKOUT AND YOUR HOME USES A BOILER SYSTEM FOR HEATING

From Nick, a neighbour from Roncesvalles/Toronto: As a result of not taking actions, our boiler system and house suffered great damages. Our boiler itself was damaged beyond repair and several pipes burst causing walls and ceilings to be ripped out - unfortunatelly in our bedrooms. The total damage so far cost in the neighborhood of $10,000.00. We were lucky that I was home at the time and was able to react quickly preventing further damage.

What you need to know.

• Your boiler system works separately from the water supply to the rest of your home (taps, toilet, shower, etc.)
• Running your taps (as was advised by the city) will NOT prevent pipes associated with a boiler system from freezing.

What to do.

• Turn the electrical supply switch to your boiler off. (yes you may not power at this time, but in the event the power comes back on while you are working on preventing any pipes from freezing, you will be able to react according to what steps you have already taken).
• Close off any air supply with towels or anything else that will prevent cold air from entering the area around your boiler.
• Shut of the water supply to the boiler system (there should be a shut off valve close to the boiler itself). This will isolate the boiler system completely from the rest of the water supply of the house.
• Drain the water from the boiler system. There should be a valve closest to the floor and drain. This may take a while – there is a lot of water in the system and in your radiators.
• Open radiator valves on the top floors of your home to allow water in the system to completely drain. Air should be the only thing that comes out at this point. If water comes out, you may already have some freezing in the line.
• Once the water is completely out of the system, you are safe!

When power is restored.

• Shut all radiator valves and the draining valve near your boiler.
• Open the water supply valve to your boiler (water will begin flowing back into the boiler system).
• Switch power back on to your boiler. Unless your system in extremely old, you should not have to ignite a pilot light. All more modern systems will have self-igniter switches built in. At this time, you will hear “tick-tick” sound of your pilot light igniting and the flames firing up to heat the water in the system.
• Starting from the lowest radiators in the house, begin to bleed the lines. This will remove any air in the system and allow heated water to circulate throughout the system completely. You do this by opening the valve at the radiator. You should hear air being released. Have a cup on hand placed under the valve. As soon as water comes through the valve, shut it off and continue with the rest of you radiators.
• YOU ARE DONE

*NOTE* These procedures are necessary if the circumstances where as they were on the January 2nd occurrence. If you know the power will be out for some time and it is very cold, I would do this. If you know power will be restored within a couple of hours, your pipes should not freeze and you do not have to go through all this.

I take no responsibility for any actions you take or by the recommendations I have given. I have put this together so no one will have to go through what I went through. I wish I’d of known all this before the blackout. Check with a H-Vac specialist if you have any concerns and to verify these recommendations.

From N.C.