Boiler operation consists of many tasks to keep a boiler operating safely and efficiently. These tasks include tracking many data points, such as boiler pressure and temperature, boiler exhaust temperature, feedwater pressure and temperature, and boiler and water column blowdown timing. Continual checks should also be a part of any maintenance program, including burner flame for proper combustion, proper operation of control valves for all systems, feedwater tank or deaerator operation and level, water treatment systems, and taking water samples for comparison to recommended chemistry guidelines.
There are other equally important tasks to ensure proper boiler operation that should be performed on a weekly, monthly, semi-annual, and annual basis in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Failure to comply with the equipment manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule may result in catastrophic failure due to problem indicators being missed from lack of regular maintenance. Keeping a boiler operator’s log helps to ensure all data points are recorded, all checks are performed, and poor performance indicators are addressed. In this article, I will discuss boiler maintenance and the danger of neglecting it.