Boiler Repair & Installation Services. Keeping Older Homes Warm the Right Way

Boilers have been heating homes in Washtenaw County for over a century — and the ones still running in Ann Arbor’s older neighborhoods, Ypsilanti’s historic districts, and Chelsea’s established homes are a testament to how well-built they are. But durable doesn’t mean maintenance-free. When a boiler starts acting up — whether it’s an older cast iron system that’s been in a basement for decades or a newer high-efficiency unit that needs attention. Riviance HVAC has the training, the licensing, and the hands-on experience to handle it correctly.

Boiler Services

Boilers are common in older Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti homes, and they are built to last — but they still need regular maintenance and, eventually, professional attention. We service and install hot water and steam boiler systems across Washtenaw and Wayne Counties with the Class 7 license this work actually requires.

Signs Your Boiler Needs Attention

Boilers tend to give you warning signs before they fail. In fact, catching these early is almost always the difference between a straightforward repair and an expensive emergency replacement:

Radiators that are cold at the top but warm at the bottom — air in the system
Unusual sounds — banging, kettling, or gurgling from the boiler or pipes
The system is cycling on and off more frequently than usual
Uneven heat — some rooms warm, others consistently cold
A visible leak or moisture around the boiler or connecting pipes
The pressure gauge reading is outside the normal operating range
The pilot light keeps going out on older systems
Your heating bills have increased without a change in usage
The boiler is over 15 years old and hasn’t been serviced recently

If any of these sound familiar, the time to call is now — not when it stops working entirely on the coldest night of the year.

Our Boiler Repair Services

Hot Water Boiler Repair

We diagnose and repair all components — circulator pumps, expansion tanks, zone valves, aquastats, and heat exchangers. All major brands serviced including Weil-McLain, Burnham, Peerless, Buderus, and Navien.

Steam Boiler Repair

Steam systems require specific expertise that most HVAC contractors don't have. We handle steam traps, low-water cutoffs, pressure controls, and venting issues that cause uneven heat distribution throughout your home.

Boiler Controls & Safety Devices

The controls and safety devices are what stand between normal operation and a dangerous situation. We test every aquastat, pressure relief valve, low-water cutoff, and gas control — and fix anything out of range before we leave.

Circulator Pump Service & Replacement

When the circulator pump fails, you get heat at the boiler but nothing at the radiators. We stock common replacement pumps on every service vehicle — most pump replacements are completed on the same visit.

Expansion Tank Service

A waterlogged or failed expansion tank causes pressure fluctuations that repeatedly trigger your relief valve and stress your boiler. It's one of the most overlooked components — and one of the most common causes of service calls.

Boiler Maintenance & Annual Tune-Up

Our annual tune-up covers combustion analysis, heat exchanger inspection, controls testing, flue inspection, and water quality assessment — with a written report of findings at the end of every visit. → Maintenance Plans

Not sure what's wrong with your boiler? We'll diagnose it honestly — free assessment available.

Boiler Installation — When It's Time for a New System

High-Efficiency Boiler Installation

Today’s condensing boilers achieve efficiency ratings of 90–98% AFUE — compared to 70–80% for many older systems. Over a Michigan heating season, that difference adds up substantially on your gas bill. We install high-efficiency hot water boilers across all major brands and handle the full installation including gas connection, venting, controls integration, and system commissioning.

Proper System Sizing

Boiler sizing matters more than most homeowners realize. An oversized boiler short-cycles — firing and shutting off repeatedly without running long enough to operate efficiently. An undersized unit runs continuously on the coldest days and still can’t keep up. We perform a proper heat loss calculation for every installation to ensure your new boiler is correctly sized for the specific heat distribution system in your home.

Radiator & Baseboard Upgrades

Sometimes a boiler replacement is an opportunity to address the distribution system as well — replacing old cast iron radiators, upgrading baseboard units, or adding zone controls that weren’t possible with the old system. We handle the full scope of hydronic heating work, not just the boiler itself.

Furnace Service Gallery

saline client having their Furnace check

Furnace check and filter pulled out in saline

Before furnace flame sensor cleaning Ann Arbor

Armstrong Air Downflow Furnace maintenance in Ann Arbor

After furnace flame sensor cleaning Ann Arbor

Geotab to ypsi with live off concord furnace

Why Choose Riviance for Boiler Service

Michigan Class 5 Licensed — Hydronic Heating. Not every HVAC contractor holds a Class 7 license. Ours is current and covers the full range of hydronic heating work — hot water boilers, steam boilers, radiant systems, and related components. It’s the credential that matters for this work.
Experience With Older Systems: Washtenaw County has many older boiler systems — particularly in the historic neighborhoods of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. We’re comfortable with these systems and treat them with the respect that well-built older equipment deserves.
Honest on Repair vs. Replace: We’ll tell you clearly when a repair makes sense and when it doesn’t. If your 25-year-old boiler has a compromised heat exchanger, we’ll explain why replacement is the honest recommendation — and back it up with numbers, not pressure.
Same-Day Emergency Response: A boiler that stops working in a Michigan winter is an emergency. Our 24/7 emergency line connects you directly to a technician — not a recording, not a callback queue. We respond fast because we understand what’s at stake.

We Provide Boiler Services Across Washtenaw & Wayne Counties

Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor’s older neighborhoods have some of the most interesting and well-built boiler systems in Washtenaw County. We know them well.

Ypsilanti, MI

Ypsilanti’s historic housing stock runs a high concentration of older boiler systems. We service both hot water and steam systems throughout the city.

Saline, MI

Boiler service and installation across Saline’s mix of older and newer homes. Same-day scheduling available.

Canton, MI

Fast, reliable boiler service across Canton Township. All brands, all system types.

Dexter, MI

Rural and village properties throughout Dexter, including homes with older and non-standard boiler configurations.

Chelsea, MI

Complete boiler repair and installation services in Chelsea. Same standards, same response time.

FAQ

A hot water boiler heats water and circulates it through pipes to radiators or baseboard units — the water stays liquid throughout the system. A steam boiler heats water until it becomes steam, which rises through the pipes and radiators by pressure alone. Steam systems are older technology but still common in Washtenaw County's historic housing stock, and they require specific expertise to service correctly.

A well-maintained boiler can last 20–30 years — significantly longer than a typical forced-air furnace. However, that longevity depends on regular service. A boiler that's been neglected for years may reach the end of its practical life much sooner, particularly if the heat exchanger has been compromised.

Banging or kettling sounds in a boiler system are usually caused by one of a few things — limescale buildup on the heat exchanger, air trapped in the system, or water pressure issues. In steam systems, banging often indicates a condensate drainage problem. We'll diagnose the specific cause rather than guess.

Yes. We service and install all major residential boiler brands including Weil-McLain, Burnham, Peerless, Buderus, Navien, Bosch, and more. Because we're independent from any manufacturer, our recommendations are based on what's right for your home — not brand preference.

Yes — more so than for forced-air systems, in many ways. Boilers operate at higher pressures and temperatures, and safety devices that are allowed to go untested can fail silently. An annual tune-up catches failing components, verifies safety devices are working, and keeps your system running at peak efficiency. It also keeps your warranty valid.

Most boiler repairs range from $150 to $900 depending on the component and the complexity. Common repairs like circulator pump replacement or expansion tank service tend to be on the lower end, while heat exchanger work or controls replacement costs more. We provide a written estimate before any work begins.

Yes. We're licensed to perform CSD-1 boiler inspections required by the state of Michigan, with full documentation for state submission. → See our HVAC Inspections page

We provide boiler services throughout Washtenaw & Wayne Counties including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Canton, Dexter, and Chelsea. Click your city below for area-specific information.

Related Services from Riviance HVAC

Washtenaw & Wayne Counties Boiler Specialists. Licensed, Experienced & Ready.

Hot water or steam, repair or replacement, routine maintenance or emergency call Riviance HVAC has the Class 7 license and the hands-on experience your boiler system deserves.