What Are the Requirements for Condemning a Residential Heat Exchanger?

Water

• The water supply that feeds the boiler, if it is a water or steam system, cannot come from the normal domestic water supply. It must be piped into the house from another piping system. It may also not discharge itself into the sewer system directly. A boiler must be able to maintain its proper water load consistently. If it does not, it will either build insufficient pressure, or too much.

Cracks and Joints

• Cracks in the main pressure chamber of any kind automatically lead to condemnation. A cracked chamber cannot be repaired; the entire canister or chamber must be replaced. Welded joints throughout the system come under strict scrutiny, and welders working on heating systems must be specially certified.

Safety Features

• Safety valves must be regularly inspected. They cannot be disabled or dismantled in any way. If the mechanism's pressure gets too high, these valves release a small, controlled amount of pressure to relieve the system. The doors of the mechanism must open only inward, since the pressure inside could force them out. These doors must be in good working order and be strong enough to keep the pressure inside the machine.

Clearance and Support

• The mechanism itself must have room to work. In Pennsylvania, for example, a boiler must have a 6-foot clearance overhead and a minimum of 30 inches on each side. The main parts of the exchange must have access points that can be easily reached at any time. The structure itself and the pipes that extrude from it must be well-supported. The clamps and supports must be clean, strong and free from corrosion.