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Service Tips from the Field

It's been said that knowledge is the key to success. After decades of service in the boiler and burner industry, we want to help our customers by passing along some of the knowledge we've acquired. Every month we want to offer you a tip from our service and technical department. These tips can save you time and money. Allow us to show you this month's boiler and burner tip from the field.

Burner & Boiler Low Water Issues

The number one rule with a boiler is keeping the correct water level. The number two rule is keeping the correct water level.

There is a code requirement that the feedwater pump must be able to exceed the relief valve set point of the boiler. If a boiler were to run away with itself (a clogged control train) and the boiler pressure could exceed the pump then the pump would not be able to put water in the boiler until the pressure dropped.

Hopefully the low water cut off would shut the boiler down and the pressure would drop. Once it was lower than the pump pressure water would again start into the boiler raising its level.

When the correct level was reached the boiler would start again on the process of running away. We call this cycling off the low water cut off. Unless you pay attention the boiler would be starting and stopping like it use to, but for completely different reasons.

If the pump can exceed the relief valve set point they will pop off... and believe me someone will notice and attention drawn to the boiler room and the true fault found. This is important because low water is the explosion you don't ever want to experience.

Contact us, and a representative will be more than happy to answer any of your service related questions.

Service Tip Archives

• Burner & Boiler Pilot Failures