Visual checks are definitely useful, but I'd caution against relying on them too heavily. I've seen cases where a tiny leak was hidden behind insulation or tucked away in a spot you'd never casually glance at. Gauges aren't perfect, true, but neither is a quick visual once-over. Best practice is probably a combination of both, plus periodic thorough inspections—tedious, sure, but better safe than sorry... learned that the hard way myself.
"Best practice is probably a combination of both, plus periodic thorough inspections—tedious, sure, but better safe than sorry... learned that the hard way myself."
Yeah, I get what you're saying about visual checks not always catching everything. I've been working alongside my mentor on boiler installs lately, and honestly, I'm starting to wonder how much trust you can put into gauges too. Just last week we had one gauge reading totally fine, but when we opened things up for routine maintenance, there was corrosion building up in spots you'd never think to look at casually. Makes me wonder how often these gauges actually give false peace of mind?
I mean, obviously visual checks alone aren't enough either—like you pointed out with leaks tucked behind insulation—but sometimes even the combo of visual checks and gauges seems iffy. Maybe it's just because I'm still learning and haven't seen enough yet to fully trust the equipment or my own eyes completely. But it feels like there's always something hiding somewhere unexpected.
How often do you guys typically do those thorough inspections? Is there a sweet spot between being overly cautious and risking missing something important? Seems like every plumber I've talked to has their own idea of what's "enough," so now I'm curious what others here think...
Honestly, gauges are usually pretty reliable if they're decent quality and calibrated regularly. But you're right, nothing beats actually opening things up once in a while. I'd say yearly thorough inspections are enough unless you've got older equipment or known issues...then maybe twice a year.
"I'd say yearly thorough inspections are enough unless you've got older equipment or known issues...then maybe twice a year."
Yeah, that's pretty much spot on. I used to trust gauges completely until one winter when my boiler pressure gauge read perfectly normal, but the radiators upstairs were barely warm. Turns out, sediment had built up and partially blocked the pipes—something the gauge obviously couldn't detect. Ever since then, I've made it a habit to do a quick visual check every few months. Doesn't take long: just shut off the system, drain a bit of water from the bottom valve into a bucket, and see if it's clear or rusty. If it's rusty or cloudy, that's usually my cue to flush out the system thoroughly.
Also, for anyone with older boilers like mine (pushing 20 years now), don't underestimate how quickly corrosion or scale can build up inside pipes and valves. Gauges might not catch those subtle issues until they're bigger headaches. A little preventive maintenance goes a long way...
Good advice on checking the water clarity—I do something similar every few months. But honestly, flushing the system thoroughly can be a pain. Do you guys use any additives or inhibitors to slow down corrosion and buildup? I've heard mixed things about them...
