For 75 years, The Wilkinson Companies has helped New England businesses, schools, hospitals and other facilities prepare for—and get through—the heating season.
While the goal has remained the same, keeping buildings warm and heating systems operating reliably, the way we prepare for winter has changed significantly.
What was once a relatively straightforward checklist of cleaning, inspecting and firing up a boiler has evolved into a much more comprehensive approach that considers efficiency, controls, system performance, redundancy and emergency planning.
As we look back at 75 years in the heating industry, here's a look at how preparing for the heating season has changed—and what we think is most important today.
Then: Make Sure the Boiler Is Ready to Fire
Decades ago, getting ready for winter often meant making sure the boiler was clean, the burner was operating properly and there was enough fuel to get through the season.
These basic checks were essential, and they still are. But today's heating systems are far more sophisticated, meaning there is much more to evaluate before the first cold weather arrives.
Now: Look at the Entire System
Today, heating-season preparation isn't just about whether a boiler will fire.
It's about how the entire system is performing.
That can include evaluating:
· Boiler and burner operation
· Combustion and efficiency
· Controls and safeties
· Pumps and related equipment
· System pressures and temperatures
· Sequencing between multiple boilers
· Overall system capacity
· Potential areas of failure or downtime
Modern controls and equipment can provide significantly greater efficiency and control than systems of the past. Taking the time to make sure those components are operating as intended can make a meaningful difference throughout the heating season.
Then: Clean It, Check It and Keep It Running
Preventative maintenance has always been an important part of preparing for winter.
In earlier generations of commercial heating, maintenance was often focused on keeping equipment clean and making sure the boiler and burner were ready for another season of operation.
That fundamental philosophy hasn't changed.
The difference is how much more we can learn from the equipment today.
Now: Optimize Performance, Not Just Operation
Modern combustion technology and controls give today's technicians more information and more ways to fine-tune a system.
Rather than simply asking, "Is it running?" we're also asking:
Is it running efficiently? Is it operating safely? Is it responding properly to demand? Are the controls doing what they're supposed to do?
For many facilities, that distinction matters. A system can be operating while still leaving opportunities for improved efficiency, reliability or performance.
Then: Hope the System Makes It Through the Winter
There was a time when heating-season preparation largely meant getting the equipment ready and dealing with problems as they occurred.
Today, facility managers have another consideration: What happens if something goes wrong?
A heating system failure in the middle of a New England winter can have consequences far beyond an uncomfortable building. Depending on the facility, it can affect operations, occupants, equipment, inventory and even the ability to remain open.
Now: Plan for What Happens When Things Don't Go According to Plan
Emergency planning has become an important part of heating-season preparation.
That may mean understanding the condition and expected lifespan of existing equipment, identifying potential points of failure, knowing who to call when an emergency occurs and having a contingency plan for maintaining heat if a major piece of equipment goes down.
This is also where temporary and mobile heating solutions can play an important role.
Wilkinson's Mobile Boiler Division has been helping facilities maintain heat during emergencies, planned outages and equipment replacements for decades. What began as an expansion of Wilkinson's services in the late 1980s has grown into one of New England's largest mobile boiler fleets.
In other words, heating-season preparedness today isn't only about preventing a problem. It's also about being prepared for one.
Then: Efficiency Meant Getting More From the Fuel
Heating technology has come a long way over the past 75 years.
Older commercial heating systems could operate at considerably lower efficiencies than many of today's systems. The transition from coal and heavy oil to natural gas, along with advances in burner technology, boiler design and controls, has changed what is possible.
Now: Efficiency Is Part of the Conversation From the Start
Today's high-efficiency equipment can achieve efficiencies of 90% or more, depending on the system and application.
But equipment efficiency is only part of the equation.
Proper combustion, correct system sizing, controls, sequencing, maintenance and overall system design all play a role in how efficiently a heating system operates.
That's why modern heating-season preparation is less about checking a box and more about understanding how all of the pieces work together.
75 Years Later, the Goal Hasn't Changed
Technology has changed. Fuels have changed. Boilers and burners have changed. The way facilities monitor and manage their heating systems has changed.
But one thing hasn't:
New England facilities still need reliable heat when winter arrives.
After 75 years in the industry, we've seen firsthand how much commercial heating has evolved. We've also learned that the best time to think about heating problems is before you have one.
As another heating season approaches, a little preparation can go a long way toward keeping your system operating safely, efficiently and reliably when you need it most.
After 75 years, we're still here to help New England stay warm.