Boilers heat a lot of Northeast Ohio homes, and many of them have been doing it for decades. Wilson has worked on hot water and steam systems in Akron-area homes since Ralph and Theresa Wilson opened the business in 1958. Today our licensed HVAC technicians repair, maintain and replace both hot water and steam boilers across Summit, Cuyahoga, Portage, Stark and Medina counties.
If your boiler is not heating, is leaking, short cycling or making new noises, call 330-920-0225. Our call center answers around the clock, so you can get a visit on the schedule any time.
Hot water boilers and steam boilers are different systems
A hot water (hydronic) boiler heats water and pumps it through radiators, baseboard or in-floor tubing. A steam boiler boils water and lets the steam rise through the pipes to cast iron radiators, then the condensed water returns to the boiler. The two systems use different controls, different safety devices and different repair methods, and a technician who works on one every day does not always know the other well.
Wilson services both. On a hot water system we look at the circulator pump, expansion tank, pressure relief valve, pressure and temperature, and the air in the loop. On a steam system we check the water level in the sight glass, the low water cutoff, the pressure control, main vents and radiator vents, and how well condensate returns. Getting the system type right on the first visit is how we avoid repeat trips.
Signs your boiler needs a technician
- Cold radiators or uneven heat. On hot water systems this is often trapped air or a failing circulator. On steam systems it is often a stuck vent or a pitch problem in the piping.
- Banging, hammering or gurgling. Steam systems that bang usually have water sitting where steam should travel. Hot water systems that gurgle usually have air in the loop.
- Water around the boiler. A dripping relief valve, a leaking fitting or a cracked section all need attention before they get worse.
- Short cycling or frequent lockouts. The boiler fires, shuts off and fires again, or stops and needs a reset.
- Pressure or water level out of range. High pressure on a hot water boiler or a low or bouncing water line on a steam boiler is a reason to call, not to wait.
- Rising gas bills with no change in comfort. Dirty heat exchangers and poorly adjusted burners waste fuel.
If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility from outside before you call us.
Boiler repair
A repair visit starts with a full look at the system, not just the part that failed. The technician tests the controls and safeties, checks combustion and venting, and explains what they found before any work starts. You get upfront pricing for the repair before we pick up a tool, and the decision stays with you.
Common repairs include circulator pumps, expansion tanks, relief valves, zone valves, thermostats and controls on hot water systems, and low water cutoffs, pressure controls, vents and water feeders on steam systems. When a part is no longer made for an older boiler, we will tell you that plainly so you can plan.
Boiler maintenance
A boiler that is cleaned and checked once a year runs safer, uses less fuel and fails less often in January. Maintenance covers burner and heat exchanger cleaning, combustion and venting checks, safety control tests, and system pressure or water level. For steam systems it also includes a low water cutoff test and a look at vents and the sight glass. Book it in late summer or early fall, before the first cold week fills the schedule.
Boiler replacement
Replacement makes sense when repairs are stacking up, parts are hard to find, or a heat exchanger or cast iron section has failed. Wilson replaces hot water and steam boilers and sizes the new unit to your home and your existing radiators rather than to the old boiler's label, since many older boilers were oversized when they went in.
For hot water systems, a modern high efficiency boiler can lower fuel use. Steam systems need a steam boiler; converting a steam house to hot water is a larger project, and we will walk you through the trade-offs if it comes up. Before you decide, your technician explains exactly what the installation includes, such as removal of the old unit and any permit the job needs, and walks you through the new controls once it is running.
Not sure whether to repair or replace? Ask for both options on the same visit. Our technicians explain what each one costs and what you get, and you choose.
The Healthy Home Membership covers boiler maintenance
Wilson's Healthy Home Membership is $15 a month and includes up to two HVAC maintenance visits a year, a waived dispatch fee, 15% off repairs and 5% off installations, plus an extended two-year labor warranty. Terms apply, including a 12-month minimum.
Where we service boilers
Wilson services boilers across Northeast Ohio, with offices in Stow, Akron, Solon and Beachwood. Boiler work often comes with related heating and plumbing needs, so the same team can also help with furnaces and heating, water heaters and plumbing.
FAQs
Boiler questions
Do you work on steam boilers or only hot water boilers?
Both. Wilson maintains, repairs and replaces hot water and steam boilers. Steam systems need different checks, including the low water cutoff, sight glass, pressure control and vents, and our technicians test those on every steam visit.
Why are my radiators banging?
Banging in a steam system usually means condensed water is trapped where steam should flow, often from piping that has lost its pitch or a failing vent. In hot water systems, noise usually points to air in the loop. A technician can find the cause.
How often should a boiler be serviced?
Once a year, ideally before heating season. Annual service cleans the burner and heat exchanger, checks combustion and venting, and tests the safety controls. Healthy Home Membership members get up to two HVAC maintenance visits a year included.
Should I repair or replace my boiler?
It depends on the boiler's condition, the cost of the repair and whether parts are still available. A cracked section or failed heat exchanger usually means replacement. Ask your technician for both options on the same visit and compare them.
Can you replace a steam boiler with a hot water boiler?
It is possible, but it is a larger project because steam radiators and piping are designed for steam. Most steam homes replace like for like. If you are considering a conversion, our team will explain the scope, cost and trade-offs first.
Book boiler service with Wilson
Call 330-920-0225 or book online. Upfront pricing before any work starts. Read what homeowners say in our Google reviews.