Inspect the Cold Boiler System 

The first thing you need to do is inspect the boiler before re-commissioning it. It’s wise to have a checklist of items to ensure a comprehensive look at the system. A few areas you need to inspect include: 

• Check the valves and system for any evidence of calcium deposits or leaks.
• Check the expansion joints and make sure they can expand properly when the system warms up.
• Take a look at the fuel supply. Make sure the pre-heating equipment is functional. Confirm the tank is full. If there is any firing gas, make sure the pressure is appropriate. 
• Make sure all inspection openings have been properly gasketed and closed. 

After you complete these steps, you can move on to the next area. 

Open the Vents and Fill with Water

Next, you need to open up the boiler vents. Start with the manual boiler feed valve. Ensure all the blowdown valves are closed properly. Open the manual gas valves and make sure they are not leaking.

After this, you should fill the boiler with water. Make sure you fill it to the appropriate level based on the sight glass. When you do this, be sure to look at the boiler feed system. Make sure the pumps have been aligned properly, and look at the feed water valve for any signs of leaks or damage. 

Finally, you should take a look at the condensate transfer pumps throughout the system. Make sure they are working appropriately. 

Engage the Burner Switch

Now, you are ready to turn on the boiler. Engage the burner switch and turn on the control circuit. Start to warm the boiler slowly, and allow it to expand gradually. Keep an eye on the gauge glass on the low water cut-off. Make sure the proper level is met. 

As the boiler continues to warm up, make sure the operating systems are working properly. Take a look at the water softener and make sure that it is functional as well. Once the boiler is warmed up, switch it over to automatic operation.

Proper Cold Boiler Shut Down

Once you are ready to shut down your boiler, turn off the burner. Make sure you shut off the fuel supply to the boiler as well. If the superheater outlet drain valve is equipped, open this up.

Next, you should close the main steam stop valve. Make sure all the drains are open. Finally, shut down the entire boiler feed system. This will make sure you turn your boiler off properly.

Contact McKenna Boiler for Help with Boiler Maintenance

Whether you have a hot boiler or a cold boiler, you have to make sure you turn it on and shut it down properly. That way, you can keep your utility bills low, reduce your maintenance expenses, and get as many years of use as possible out of your boiler system. That is where we can assist you. We are McKenna Boiler, and it would be our pleasure to help you with boiler maintenance and repairs. We will make sure you get as much out of your boilers as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our boilers, boiler accessories, services and more.

The post Steps to Startup and Shutdown a Cold Boiler System appeared first on McKenna Boiler.

1. Invest in Routine Boiler Maintenance

Daily inspections are valuable when considering the return on investment for your boiler. Even though you may think the boiler is working well, routine maintenance helps operators identify any signs of leaks, breaks or other types of damage early-on. If a loose screw is significantly reducing performance output, the boiler loses its efficiency. Such minor details are often overlooked, but can significantly impact boiler performance. 

Furthermore, boiler maintenance can reduce utility costs by maintaining production levels. When the boiler requires more energy to spend generating the same target output, you’re operating at a loss. Alongside daily inspections, monthly boiler maintenance from a reliable boiler company ensures that the internal and external systems of the boiler are operating smoothly. Consider the frequency, duration and target output levels of your boiler when developing a custom maintenance schedule. 

2. Check the Waterside

Next, you have to check the water components of your boiler. You are looking for any mineral scale that might reduce the efficiency of your boiler. Any type of blockage within the pipes will affect production levels. If it takes more energy for the boiler to push the hot water or steam, this can be an indicator that the pipes have build up. Check the tubes, furnace area, and gasket sealing surfaces. If you lack the tools to perform these inspections, reach out to a professional who is well-equipped for these types of exams. 

3. Check the Fireside and Burners

Additionally, you also have to check the fireside and burners. You are looking for any signs that might reduce the efficiency of your boiler. You should also take a look for any leakage that would require repair. If you notice a lot of soot, this could indicate a larger problem. You also need to take a look at the dampers, electrodes, novels, hoses, scanners, and diffusers. You are looking for any signs of blockage or erosion. If there are worn or damaged parts, they should be replaced in order to optimize the efficiency of your boiler’s combustion processes. 

4. Do a Visual Inspection for Cracks

You should also take a step back and do a visual inspection, looking for any signs of cracks. Even minor cracks can significantly reduce the efficiency of your boiler, adding to the stress on the inner components. This can also drive up your utility bills. If there are cracks, metal parts could also be damaged. When seeking professional boiler technicians to repair, make sure they use a high-quality patching compound. That way, these cracks do not return.

5. Analyze the Controls

Finally, you also have to analyze the controls. Proper water levels are critical for operational safety and maximum efficiency. Therefore, take a look at the glass on the gauges. Look for any signs of cracks or erosion. You also need to inspect the equipment, taking a closer look at their output. That way, you will know if something goes wrong. If one of the controls isn’t reading accurately, this indicates that there is a deeper issue in your boiler system. That is where we can assist you. 

Contact McKenna Boiler Today for Boiler Services

While boiler tips and guides can be found online, having a resource readily available to perform these tasks can be difficult. We always encourage boiler owners to be proactive in predictive maintenance. However, we understand that they’re a time commitment that is of lower priority when things are going well. In order to minimize boiler damage and complete failure, you should invest in professional boiler services. McKenna Boiler proudly serves clients nationwide with turnkey solutions. Alongside our exclusive line of industrial boilers, we also offer boiler maintenance and boiler repairs for all boiler types. Contact us to schedule routine maintenance and inspections with our certified technicians to maintain your boiler’s overall health and performance.

The post Five Easy Boiler Maintenance Steps for Your Daily Routine appeared first on McKenna Boiler.

Insulate or Heat All Pipes in Your Plumbing System

One of the biggest risks that arises during the winter involves freezing water pipes. When water freezes, it expands. If water freezes in your commercial pipes, the pipes might rupture. Then, when the water thaws, you will end up with flooding in crucial parts of your building. Therefore, make sure that all of your water pipes are properly insulated and heated. They need to be kept above 32 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. You can use either electrical or steam-based heating lines to ensure that your boiler survives the cold weather. Keep in mind that if your heat tracing system is based on steam, it is only going to operate one more boiler is running. 

Drain Your Boiler When it Is Not in Use

If you are not planning on keeping your boiler running at all times during the winter, then you should make sure to drain the boiler and all water lines connected to it. This will markedly reduce the risk of water freezing in your pipes. When water is allowed to sit idle, there is a much higher chance of freezing. Keep in mind that if you do shut down your boiler, it will take time to warm up when you restart it. If you increase the temperature or pressure in your boiler too quickly when you turn it on again, this could seriously damage the joints, pistons, and metal parts in your boiler. Heating your boiler up too quickly could result in expansion breakage. 

Check Your Flow of Fuel

If your fuel oil lines are not properly insulated or heated, the viscosity of the fuel in the lines could become too high for your fuel pump. As a result, this could impact the flow of fuel through your lines, leading to permanent damage to your pump. Remember that standard oil starts to gel at around 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, make sure that your lines are well above this limit. In addition to heating and insulating your fuel lines, you could also switch your fuel to a winter mix. A traditional winter mix is about 50 percent fuel and 50 percent kerosene. 

Professional Boiler Service With McKenna Boilers

If you are getting your boiler ready for the winter season, then you need to invest in boiler maintenance services from McKenna Boilers. At McKenna Boilers, we provide premier boiler service and repair professionals to ensure your boiler is ready for the cold temperatures. Your boiler is going to work hard this winter, so make sure it can handle this workload with our boiler maintenance services. Contact us today to learn more about how our boiler service and repair experts can help you get your boiler ready for the winter season!

The post Optimize Your Industrial Boiler Performance for Winter appeared first on McKenna Boiler.

Looking at Traditional Linkage Boiler Systems

Linkage boiler systems are the traditional method. This is a standard, single point system. Multiple arms are coming off of it. For example, one arm might control the air damper while the other one controls the gas valve. Because all of the arms are connected, a shift in one part will impact the others. If the air valve is open, then this can start a chain reaction where the gas valve opens followed by the oil valve. In this manner, if one area is causing a problem, it’ll affect the rest of the boiler system. This can affect your turndown ratio and decrease fuel efficiency and production.

It is important to regularly maintain your linkage systems as well. There are lots of nuts and bolts holding it together. They’ll inevitably slip, move, and open up over time of use. If you’re not checking these points, this will greatly impact the efficiency of your linkage control system. A linkage control system is significantly cheaper than other boiler options. However, in the long run, a linkage system is going to require about five to ten percent more fuel due to reduced efficiency.

To ensure high performance of your linkage control system, inspect your boiler at least once per month. For additional support, seek boiler maintenance services from a trusted company like McKenna Boiler. 

Looking at Newer Parallel Boiler Systems

When compared to linkage positioning, parallel positioning is the modern solution. With a parallel positioning control system, there’s usually a separate servo motor for every point including air, oil, and gas. This provides the user with independent control over these aspects. A parallel positioning system provides opportunities to improve performance with micro-tuning. Because the various components are not linked together, it’s possible to change one part of the boiler system without directly affecting the rest. It’s far easier to start a parallel positioning system and requires less maintenance to overhead costs.

Since there are lots of parallel positioning systems, you must research for a system that can benefit your boiler and effectively reduce hysteresis. Even though gears naturally have a small amount of hysteresis, professionals who offer boiler mechanical services work with parallel positioning systems to minimize this and improve overall efficiency of your boiler. Because parallel positioning systems leverage the latest technology including advanced motors, touchscreen, and HD technology, this investment will provide business owners with the necessary tools to maintain and improve their boiler system. Thanks to the higher efficiency of parallel positioned boilers, businesses often save ten percent or more on their gas expenses. You can reinvest the money you’d spend on additional fuel on another boiler to increase production.

Check out our industrial boiler rentals to experience these benefits before taking the leap.

Professionals Who Maximize Boiler Efficiency

These are a few of the key points to note when it comes to the efficiency of traditional linkage vs parallel positioning boiler systems. To get the most out of your boiler system, rely on comprehensive boiler maintenance services from reliable boiler repair companies like McKenna Boiler. Contact our team today to learn more about our services and boilers!

The post Boiler Systems: Linkage Control Vs. Parallel Positioning appeared first on McKenna Boiler.

Safe and careful managers usually perform maintenance tasks that go beyond the legally mandated minimum requirements for boiler ownership. At least once every year, companies look for boiler service professionals to examine all waterside and fireside surfaces. Additionally, it’s important to inspect refractory surfaces as well. This ensures that all scale, corrosion, and mud are removed in order to have the boiler functioning correctly. 

Look for Rust and Corrosion on the Fireside and Waterside

It is important to open up the fireside and waterside to look for scale, rust, and corrosion. If any of these are present, it is going to impact the efficiency of the boiler. Scale, rust, and corrosion form due to the minerals present in the water that react to the high heat located in the interior boiler and its pipes. 

Rust and corrosion may also be found in various valves, fittings, and other points of attachment. When an area becomes susceptible to corrosion, it could become too thin. As a result, the increased pressure within the boiler could lead to a leak or rupture. 

Inspect Tubes for Cracks and Fissures

It is also important to take a close look at the tubes. The tubes could develop cracks and scale over time. If scale and cracks are present, this could also impact the efficiency of the boilers. In order to take care of the tubes, it is important to conduct a blowdown every eight hours.

After this, the inspectors are going to take a closer look at the boiler. It is important to move accessories and items out the way to maximize space for them to take a closer examination at the gas pressure and combustion processes within the boiler. In order for the combustion process to take place properly, gas has to flow in the appropriate manner. The inspector will look at the gas pressure as well because the regulation valve controls the flow of the gas itself. Furthermore, the professional inspection agent is also going to make sure the combustion chamber is clean. If the combustion chamber is dirty, this could lead to problems and prevent the boiler from properly working. You may need to look for boiler maintenance services from professionals in your local area to clean your chamber and perform other tasks.

Inspecting the Control Panel and Ventilation

During the inspection, the control panel and ventilation are also going to be inspected thoroughly. Most boilers have a computerized control panel that needs to be regularly updated to maintain control over the boilers in use. The settings have to be working correctly and the thermostat has to be operating accurately. The inspector will take a closer look at the ventilation of the boiler as well. Since it serves as a major safety concern, it’s common for inspectors to conduct a test fire to make sure the boiler can fire safely. 

If you are looking for trained professionals who can help you with your boiler, then look no further than McKenna Boilers.

Contact McKenna Boilers Today for an Annual Boiler Inspection

At McKenna Boilers, we take great pride in the boiler maintenance services that we provide. As one of the top boiler repair companies in the area, our team will provide you with a comprehensive boiler service, ensuring that your boiler works safely and efficiently. Contact us today to learn more about our boiler services.

The post What to Expect During Your Annual Boiler Inspection appeared first on McKenna Boiler.