| Every home and business that uses central heating | | | | soot hnders heat tansfer to the water section of the |
| will have a boiler. Maintaining a boiler is as important as | | | | boiler. When there is a decrease in the transfer of |
| maintaining any other vital system in a home or | | | | heat, the burner will turn on more often which |
| business. Without boiler maintenance, the life of the | | | | expends more fuel. The result is increased energy |
| boiler will be drastically shortened. The best way to | | | | costs. The boiler should be cleaned at least twice a |
| keep a boiler running properly is maintaining it regularly | | | | year. |
| instead of waiting for a part to break down. Below | | | | 4. It is important to check the boiler for leaks. Areas |
| are a number of tips to maintaining a boiler: | | | | to be checked include stay bolts, goosenecks, |
| 1. Regular monitoring and logging the boiler readings, | | | | horizontal and vertical seams, and mud legs. Make |
| especially industrial boilers, is essential to making sure | | | | sure to replace broken bolts and studs. Make sure |
| everything is operating properly. Keeping a log record | | | | you check the fuel gauge for accuracy. |
| is essential and includes such readings as gas | | | | 5. To check to see if there is an oil and air mixture |
| temperature, flue temperature, and fuel consumption. | | | | problem, check the color of the burner flame. If the |
| This will help you identify any sudden or gradual | | | | flame is pale, there is not enough oil or there is too |
| changes that may be an indication of a problem. For | | | | much air. A flame producing black or dark orange |
| instance, an increase in gas flue temperature over | | | | smoke means there is too much oil or too little air. |
| time could indicate a build up of scale which | | | | You can assess fuel efficiency by performing a |
| decreases heat transfer and will require the services | | | | combustion test. |
| of a professional. Other readings to monitor and | | | | 6. Heating checks that should be oerformed include: |
| record include: water level, boiler operating pressure | | | | checking return lines and then flushing and cleaning |
| and temperature, gas pressure, condensate | | | | out mud legs, checking air vents including the |
| temperature, and oil pressure and temperature, | | | | radiators, blow down the low water cut off and then |
| 2. Checking the boiler for water hardness is another | | | | determine if the water feeder and gauge glass are in |
| important maintenance procedure. Boiler experts | | | | good order. While performing heat checks, you also |
| recommend having a water analysis performed as | | | | inspect the belt motors and replace them if they are |
| water hardness can decrease a boiler's efficiency. | | | | worn. |
| When there is the accumulation of minerals in the | | | | The best time to perform a boiler and maintenance |
| water the system will operate at less of a capacity. | | | | check is the spring and fall. It is always a good idea |
| Acquiring an ion exchanger will minimize the | | | | to set up an inspection program by a professional |
| development of water hardness. | | | | boiler or plumbing company. By emlisting the services |
| 3. It is important to make sure the boiler is not full of | | | | of a professional, any problems with the boiler will be |
| soot as it will reduce its efficiency. The build up of | | | | detected and repaired promptly and efficiently. |