If you have water boiling on the stove, safety should be top of mind. The same logic applies to the boilers many Bay Area homes rely upon for hot water and heat. With proper maintenance and timely repair, these systems provide energy efficient solutions for years on end.
In commercial buildings, the boiler room is a central part of a commercial hot water heating system. Boiler heating systems employ pressurized combustion energy, and therefore can pose a safety hazard if not properly maintained. Injury and property damage from burst pipes or boiler explosions can be prevented with proper system maintenance.
San Francisco is a forward-thinking city, this is why the Permit to Operate (PTO) program is so important. Annual boiler inspections can flag items to repair before they post potential hazards.
ACE Plumbing & Rooter’s boiler specialists are here to ensure your boiler is inspected once per year, maintained, and falls under compliance with San Francisco’s PTO program.
Signs Your Boiler May Need Maintenance or Replacement:
- Leaks around your boiler
- Higher than normal energy bills
- Discolored flames
- System breakdowns
Does my boiler have to get inspected? Can I opt-out?
Participation in San Francisco’s Permit to Operate Boiler Safety Program is mandatory. Failure to do so may result in fines from the city. Failure to participate opens property owners and managers to potential litigation should injury or property damage result from an accident caused by an improperly maintained system. As boilers are heat generating devices that use pressure to distribute energy, proper maintenance is key to prevent explosions that could result in death, injury, and property damage.
Step #1:
Register Your Boiler System with the City of San Francisco
(we can also take care of this for you)
Step #2:
Schedule Your Inspection with Ace Plumbing & Rooter – it’s that easy. Once your system is fully compliant and operating safely, we’ll submit your data to the city. The city will send you a new permit for the upcoming year, so please display it prominently on a wall nearby the system.
PTO Boiler Criteria:
Building Size
- 6+ Residential or Commercial Units heated by a single boiler or combined system
Boiler System
- Single or combined boilers or tankless water heaters that exceed 200k BTU capacity
- Singular or combined volume of storage tanks that exceed 120 gallons
- If combined units are used in a series, each unit will need a separate PTO
Boiler Types
- Low Pressure Hot Water Heating Boilers furnish hot water at pressures not exceeding 160 p.s.i. and at temperatures not exceeding 250°F
- Low Pressure Steam-Heating Boilers furnish steam at pressures not exceeding 15 p.s.i. (U.M.C. – 214.0)
- Domestic Hot-Water Boilers have a volume exceeding 120 gallons (454 L) or a heat input exceeding 200,000 btu/h
4 Reasons Why ACE is your Go-To solution for PTO:
As a highly-rated, state licensed C4-Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting contractor, ACE Plumbing & Rooter will inspect each boiler on your property and look for telltale signs of risky or potentially dangerous operations.
- We’ll review all applicable heating elements, tanks, valves, fittings, pipes, and other connections.
- We’ll also inspect the boiler flame to ensure it is the right color, with no visible signs of sediment buildup.
- ACE follows the San Francisco city checklist and captures all required data.
- If your system is in need of a tune-up or repair, we’ll discuss your options with you and can often proceed with the repair the same day.
Schedule your PTO Boiler Inspection with Ace Plumbing Today!
- Ensure your boiler remains in compliance and performs reliably year-round
- Never miss a filing deadline
- Avoid fines and surprise repairs
