Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend annual maintenance at minimum — ideally in late summer or early fall before heating season kicks into high gear. Alaskan systems work harder and longer than in milder climates, so annual checkups are more critical here. If you have an older system or one that sees heavy use, twice-yearly maintenance (spring and fall) isn't a bad idea either.

Yes. We work on residential and commercial systems, including traditional cast-iron boilers, steel tube boilers, high-efficiency condensing units, steam systems, and hot water systems. If it's a boiler, we can service it. If you have a rare or unusual system, give us a call — we've probably seen it before.

We work on all major brands including Weil-McLain, Burnham, Buderus, Viessmann, Navien, Lochinvar, Triangle Tube, and many others. If you have a specific brand question, just ask — if we can't service it, we'll tell you who can.

Any situation where you have no heat in cold weather, a gas leak smell, visible water spraying from the system, or system shutdowns that you can't reset falls into emergency territory. If you're unsure, call us — we'd rather reassure you than have you wait through a cold night.

It varies by location and time, but we prioritize emergencies. In most cases, we can have a technician on-site within 2-4 hours. During extreme cold snaps, response times may stretch as we're handling multiple emergency calls. We recommend calling early in the day if possible.

A frequently extinguishing pilot light is usually a thermocouple issue, though it can also indicate drafts, ventilation problems, or gas supply issues. While not always immediately dangerous, it's a sign something needs attention. We recommend scheduling service rather than repeatedly relighting it yourself.

If you smell gas, evacuate immediately and call us from outside. Don't operate light switches, phones, or anything that could create a spark. Don't try to relight anything. Once everyone is safe, call our emergency line and the gas company.

A straightforward replacement typically takes 1-2 days. New construction or system upgrades requiring new piping, electrical work, or ventilation modifications can take 3-5 days. We'll give you a timeline estimate before we start so you know what to expect.

Boiler sizing depends on several factors: square footage, insulation levels, window count, climate zone, and your heating preferences. We perform heat loss calculations to properly size your system. Undersized systems struggle to keep up; oversized systems short-cycle and waste fuel. This is why proper sizing matters.

We follow a simple rule: if the repair cost is more than 50% of replacement cost, and the system is over 15 years old, replacement usually makes more sense. That said, if it's a single component failure on a well-maintained system, repair can extend its life economically. We'll give you honest advice — upselling you isn't our style.