Boiler Enemies

The price for a new boiler is substantial and there are certain chores you can do to make the boiler last. A steam boiler is designed to last 20-30 years and I have seen boilers destroyed in less than a year. The following are some known boiler killers which will dramatically hasten the demise of the boiler. 

Makeup Water This is one of the top boiler killers as makeup water contains oxygen, carbon dioxide, and solids which will attack the boiler. The oxygen molecules will bounce around inside the boiler and piping until it will cause a leak. The solids or hardness can cause scale which will form on the water side of the vessel. Scale will form on the hottest surfaces and will insulate the tube reducing efficiency. Carbon dioxide, when mixed with water, will form carbonic acid. This acid will eat away the pipes, especially in the condensate pipes. I recommend a water meter be installed on the makeup water pipe to the system to monitor makeup water introduced to it. 

Leaks This falls right in line with makeup water because if the system is not leaking, you will need makeup water. If you see water leaking, fix it as soon as possible. Not only does the leak allow fresh untreated water to enter the system, it also wastes the chemical treatment. 

No Maintenance Steam boilers are a sophisticated piece of equipment which requires maintenance. You would never purchase a new vehicle and never have the oil changed or maintenance performed. The boiler should be thought of in the same vein. The leading cause of boiler accidents is due to lack of or improper maintenance of the boiler. The regular maintenance schedule should follow the manufacturers recommendations. This includes regular blow downs of the boiler. The low water cutoff is the leading mechanical cause of boiler accidents and should be checked on a regular basis. 

The boiler should be checked by a professional a couple times per year. They should check all the safety devices as well as the fuel to air ratio of the burner with a combustion analyzer. 

No water treatment The lack of a water treatment program is a very big factor leading to the death of a steam boiler. If you have a steam boiler, consult with a reputable water treatment professional to develop a schedule to protect your investment. Most will use some sort of chemical treatment that will do several tasks. The most important is an oxygen scavenger which will essentially consume the oxygen inside the boiler, protecting it from pitting.