Boiler inspection checklist

This is a monthly check of one boiler: are the pressure and water level in range, is it burning properly, and is anything leaking? Print the checklist below, or use the same template on a phone in MintCheck.

How to do each check

Pressure and water level

Read the pressure gauge and, if the boiler has one, the water level gauge. Compare them with the normal range in the maker's instructions. Write that range on the checklist, or ask your service company what it should be, so that everyone judges it the same way.

Combustion state

While the boiler is firing, look at the flame through the sight glass, if it has one. Don't open any covers to do this. What a good flame looks like depends on the fuel, so go by the maker's instructions.

• Normal: the flame is steady, with no soot, smoke or unusual smell.
• Incomplete: there are signs of poor burning, such as an unusually yellow or smoky flame, soot, or stains around the boiler.
• Abnormal: it won't light, it keeps shutting down, or it shows a fault code or warning light.

Poor burning can produce carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell, so don't leave these signs for the next check.

Water or oil leaks

Look under the boiler and along the pipes, valves and joints you can see for drips, wet patches, stains or rust.

Notes

Write down anything else, such as unusual noise or vibration, a fault code, or a reading you want to compare over time.

How often to check

This template is set to monthly, and many teams look more often during the heating season. Steam boilers and larger boilers often need much more frequent checks. Legal inspections, and who may operate a boiler, depend on your country and on the type and size of the boiler, so check the rules that apply to you.

Servicing, burner adjustment and safety valve tests are for qualified people.

If something is wrong

1. Mark it on the checklist and describe the problem. A photo helps.
2. If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone out, don't operate any switches, and call your gas supplier or the emergency services from a safe place.
3. For anything else, tell the person responsible and call your service company. Don't try to repair it yourself.
4. Check it again after the fix and record the result.

Use this checklist in MintCheck

1. In Checklists, click Add checklist and pick the boiler template. Its items and monthly schedule are filled in, and you can change them before you save.
2. In Assets, click Add asset, pick the boiler template and link the checklist.
3. Click Print QR and put a label on or next to the boiler.
4. Workers scan the label, answer the items and mark the result Normal or Abnormal. They can attach photos.

An Abnormal result stays Unresolved until a re-inspection confirms the fix, and the site dashboard shows completed inspections against the planned number.

Boiler readings are worth keeping. Add a Text item for each one, such as "Supply water temperature", and turn on Required answer so that a worker can't submit without it. You can then open the boiler in Assets and compare the answers in its Inspection history.

MintCheck is free for up to 5 assets with no credit card, so you can try this with your boiler and a few other assets.

Common questions

How often should a boiler be checked?

This template uses a monthly check by site staff as a starting point. Required intervals depend on your country and on the type and size of the boiler, so check the rules that apply to you and ask your service company.

What are the signs of incomplete combustion in a boiler?

Common signs are an unusually yellow or smoky flame, soot, stains around the boiler and a burning smell. Poor burning can also produce carbon monoxide, so call your service company rather than waiting for the next check.

Does this checklist replace a legal boiler inspection?

No. It is a routine check and a starting point, not a statement of compliance. Legal inspections and servicing by qualified people are separate.

Who can do this check?

Someone on site can usually read the gauges and look for leaks once they have been shown how. Your local rules may require a licensed operator for some boilers, and adjustments and repairs are for qualified people.

Can I record pressure readings?

Yes. On paper, write them under notes. In MintCheck, add a text item for each reading, and every answer stays with the boiler's inspection history.