Guide to Hot Water Boiler Maintenance

Although maintenance on your hot water tank is not usually the first thing that most people think of when they think about boat maintenance, it’s actually one of the essentials you should be covering in your boat’s maintenance routine.

Make Sure It’s Regular

Your boat’s boiler plays an important role in ensuring you have access to hot water during your adventures on the high seas – whether you’re showering or need to do some washing up. Regular hot water tank maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your hot water tank well-maintained and in good working order, because it will allow you to identify any faults or issues early. This reduces the likelihood of your boat needing costly repairs down the line, which can often result when maintenance is put on the back burner, and damage or faults go unnoticed for quite some time, leading to further damage in your hot water system.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Regular hot water boiler maintenance also ensures that everything is working correctly and safely. It can also help improve the energy efficiency of your boiler, as when everything is working correctly, your fuel consumption will be reduced, saving you more money in the long run.

Exactly what your hot water tank maintenance schedule should entail will vary, depending on the model, make, and manufacturer of your boiler. You should always check the manufacturer’s guidelines or the manual that came with your boiler to find out the right procedures for maintenance, as well as how often the manufacturer recommends that this be carried out for best results.

When to Check Your Hot Water Boiler

As a general guide though, you should generally inspect your boat’s hot water boiler or tank annually or bi-annually at least. There are some key things that your hot water boiler maintenance regime should include:

• Turning off your boiler and allowing it to cool down before you start working on it
• Checking that the connection between your boiler and its water source is in good condition, and free of cracks, damage, corrosion, or leaks
• Ensuring that your hoses are clean and do not have any blockages, and that there are no unusual noises, smells, or other warning signs coming from your system
• Checking for rust build-up or other damage inside the tank, and draining some of the water out of the tank to flush out any mineral deposits
• Flushing through your system to remove any sediment or build-up
• Testing the pressure relief valves to ensure they are releasing excess pressure when necessary
• Replacing any worn, damaged, or broken parts
• Using descaling agents to remove mineral build-up from inside your system
• Using a cloth or brush to scrub away any dirt, debris, or build-up

Don’t Forget: For Portable Hot Water Boilers

If you have a portable hot water boiler, a lot of the same hot water tank maintenance principles will apply. However, there are one or two other things you’ll want to keep in mind when it comes to maintenance. For example, you’ll need to make sure you drain the water out of the system completely if you are not going to be using it for a long time. If the water is left in there, it will go stagnant and cause damage to the pipes of your boiler, which is why it’s so important that it’s drained out.

Check the Manufacturer Guidelines

Whether you have a portable or in-built hot water boiler for your boat, you should always check the manufacturer guidelines and manual to find out how to properly maintain your boat’s hot water boiler. If you are unsure about how to maintain your hot water boiler safely and correctly, you should always consult with a professional.