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 boilers.
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.
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 of time. So slowly, in fact, that maintenance personnel grow accustomed to changes without realizing they’ve taken place. For instance, corrosion buildup in the safety valve.
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.
Contact Us
Contact us at Bay City Boiler & Engineering for all of your boiler service needs. You can learn more about our services here, or call (510) 786-3711 for a free estimate.