Boiler breakdowns can cost thousands of dollars in equipment repairs, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and business income losses. Is your boiler as safe as it could be? Let’s review some common safety issues with commercial boiler logs.
Safety Issues and Building Damage
The majority of boiler failures are caused by malfunctioning low water cutoffs, operator errors, poor maintenance and/or corrosion. For this reason, properly functioning safety devices are absolutely essential for all boilers. But the only way to be confident these controls are present and will work properly when necessary, is to regularly perform boiler maintenance, testing, and inspections.
Boiler failure interrupts service to a facility, as well as the building’s occupants and their operations. It can also result in significant damage to the building and other equipment, in addition to the building’s valuable contents. Scheduled boiler inspections can, in most instances, prevent such situations. Boiler service companies provide this type of important maintenance, and, in general, it’s best left to skilled professionals.
Boiler Logs – Other Reasons to Schedule Inspections
Boiler inspections are also important for optimal function and energy efficiency. Boilers are high energy users. In fact, they’re typically only second to HVAC systems in annual energy usage. Inefficient operation means wasted energy, plus an increase in operating costs.
Another reason to call your local boiler service and repair company is that regular inspections help extend the life of your boiler. This is especially crucial when you consider that commercial boilers are a major investment that costs upwards of $200,000 for large industrial models.
Additionally, boiler safety devices are designed to prevent dangerous conditions from turning into disasters, yet only proper maintenance prevents dangerous operating conditions from developing in the first place. Maintenance requirements vary, but all boilers require professional boiler maintenance.
It’s also important to remember that most problems don’t occur overnight. Instead, they develop gradually over a long period. So slowly, that maintenance personnel grow accustomed to changes without realizing they’ve taken place. For instance, corrosion buildup in the safety valve.
How Boiler Logs Support Compliance and Insurance Requirements
Boiler logs are often required. Many jurisdictions mandate documentation of daily, weekly, or monthly boiler checks to stay compliant with local, state, or federal safety codes. Insurance companies may also require proof of ongoing boiler maintenance and condition tracking, especially for policies that cover property damage and business interruption. Without accurate boiler logs, your facility could face fines, denied claims, or worse and be liable for preventable incidents.
Using boiler logs to document every inspection, pressure check, water level reading, and service call helps demonstrate due diligence. In the event of an issue, these records offer a strong defense by showing that the system was monitored and maintained in line with safety standards. A good boiler log is both your safety net and your paper trail.
Digital Boiler Logs Make the Job Easier
Many facilities still use paper boiler logs, but digital solutions are gaining ground, and for good reason. Cloud-based boiler logs make it easier to access records, analyze trends, and share maintenance history with service teams or inspectors. This kind of accessibility reduces the risk of missing important data or skipping required checks.
Digitized boiler logs also support preventative maintenance strategies. By tracking parameters like fuel usage, pressure variations, or feedwater quality over time, you can identify patterns that might point to a developing issue. That gives your boiler technician a head start before minor performance problems turn into full-scale breakdowns. Whether you’re using a paper notebook or a tablet in the mechanical room, the key is consistency. Boiler logs only work if you use them, review them, and act on what they reveal.
Keep a Boiler Log
The majority of boiler accidents can be prevented. Boiler logs are the best way to assure that boilers are receiving proper maintenance. They provide a continuous record of the boiler’s operation, maintenance, and testing. Because a boiler’s operating conditions change slowly over time, a log is the simplest way to detect significant changes that may otherwise go unnoticed. Professional boiler maintenance and testing should be performed and recorded in the log regularly by a boiler service company.
Boiler Logs – Contact Us
Contact us at Bay City Boiler for all of your boiler logs services need. You can learn more about our services here, or call (510) 786-3711 for a free estimate.