Steam and hot-water boilers are a different animal from the forced-air furnaces most heating companies see all day, and many crews simply aren't comfortable working on them. We are. Across Washington, DC's older neighborhoods, from Capitol Hill and Georgetown to Petworth, Mount Pleasant, and Shaw, generations of row houses still run on cast-iron radiators fed by a single boiler in the basement. When one of those systems acts up, you need a technician who understands how it's actually supposed to behave, not someone guessing their way through it.
If your radiators are banging like someone's hitting the pipes with a hammer, heating unevenly, or staying stone cold while the rest of the house roasts, there's almost always a fixable cause behind it. The same goes for leaks, a boiler that keeps losing water or pressure, and the slow decline of an aging cast-iron unit. We diagnose the real problem first, explain what we find in plain language, and give you an upfront, flat-rate price before any work begins, so a steam-heat repair never turns into an open-ended bill.
We're licensed and insured here in DC, we offer same-day and 24/7 emergency service when the heat goes out on a cold night, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. Whether it's a quick fix, a careful tune-up, or an honest conversation about replacing a boiler that's near the end of its life, we'll help you make the right call for your home.
Common Boiler, Radiator & Steam Heat Repair Problems We Fix
- Banging, knocking, or hammering noises in pipes and radiators (water hammer)
- Cold or only partially warm radiators and uneven heating between floors
- Failed or stuck steam traps and air vents
- Boiler leaks, low water level, or pressure problems
- Aging cast-iron boiler at end of life — repair or replace?
- Hissing radiator valves and trapped air needing bleeding
- Trouble finding contractors who specialize in old steam systems
What's Included
- Diagnosis and repair of water hammer and loud banging pipes
- Fixing cold or unevenly heating cast-iron radiators
- Steam trap testing, repair, and replacement
- Leak detection and repair on boilers, valves, and piping
- Low-water and low-pressure troubleshooting and correction
- Radiator bleeding and whole-system balancing
- Annual boiler tune-ups and safety inspections
- Honest assessment and replacement of aging cast-iron boilers
Washington, DC note: In DC's historic row houses, original cast-iron radiators and one-pipe steam systems are common, and they often sit in homes within designated historic districts. We work carefully around that older piping and these character-defining fixtures, and we'll flag when a repair or replacement may involve permitting so there are no surprises.
Why Choose DC HVAC Repair for Boiler, Radiator & Steam Heat Repair
- Licensed & insured technicians who work on DC homes every day.
- Upfront, flat-rate pricing — approved before any work starts.
- Same-day & 24/7 emergency availability when comfort can't wait.
- 100% satisfaction guarantee on workmanship.
What Does Boiler, Radiator & Steam Heat Repair Cost in DC?
Most boiler and radiator repairs in Washington, DC fall between $200 and $1,000, depending on the part and the labor involved, while major repairs on older systems can run from $1,200 to $3,000 or more. An annual service and tune-up typically runs $200 to $500, and a full boiler replacement generally lands between $6,500 and $11,500. Every system is different, so call us for a free, no-obligation estimate before you decide anything.
Every job is different — call for a free, no-obligation estimate tailored to your home.