Your boiler is probably one of the most expensive pieces of equipment you own, so it makes sense that you’ll want to take good care of it. Like anything else, it will undergo wear and tear over time and is vulnerable to problems that can have a negative impact on its efficiency and longevity. Here are a few ways that you can help to prevent common boiler problems.
Monitor Water Quality
The steam you produce with your boiler is only as good as the water you feed into it. If you don’t have quality water, your boiler isn’t going to produce quality steam, so it’s important to get the water flowing through your boiler tested regularly. If you have a problem with hard water, it can lead to scaling on the inside of your boiler. As little as 1/8 of an inch of scaling could cause your boiler’s efficiency to drop 20-25%, costing you a lot of money in the long run. Checking and addressing any problems with water chemistry is one of the easiest ways to prevent scaling.Clean the Boiler’s Interior
Another great way to prevent problems with scaling is to clean the interior of your boiler. This can be done either with chemicals or simply scrubbing with a brush. However, it’s an important part of the upkeep with your boiler and should usually be done at least once a year to help prevent scaling and other potential problems that can pop up with your boiler over time.Keep an Operations Log
Maintaining a log of everything that happens inside your boiler room on a daily basis can go a long way toward preventing common boiler problems. It may be monotonous, but tracking things like water temperature, gas temperature, and fuel consumption, not to mention keeping a record of any routine maintenance can make it a lot easier to keep your boiler problem-free and in good running condition. Simply having that information on hand will make it easier to notice when something is even a little off, so you can address minor issues before they start to hinder your boiler’s performance.Have a Monitoring System
In addition to maintaining a log, it’s helpful to have a monitoring system that can keep workers up to date on conditions inside the boiler and alert them if something is amiss. For instance, Miura offers customers a monitoring system called MOM that tracks operating conditions and offers possible solutions. It can even connect workers onsite with Miura engineers remotely to help with troubleshooting. The MOM system even provides monthly reports with information about fuel consumption, scale monitoring, and burner history so any issues can be dealt with before they become serious problems.Perform Routine Inspections
Last but not least, the best thing you can do for your boiler is to keep up with routine inspections and maintenance. If you can stay on schedule with your inspections, you’ll decrease your chances of encountering any unexpected problems. A full inspection can help you detect any problems with insulation, corrosion, or other issues that can be harmful to your boiler or hurt its efficiency. The good news is that if you have a Miura boiler, a full inspection only takes half a day, so the shut down is minimal and you can get your boiler back up and running in no time. Contact Us
