If you haven’t started up your boiler yet, you’ll probably be doing so by the end of the week – a cold front is supposed to bring chilly temperatures to the area and you’ll want to keep your customers and/or employees warm.
Boilers are a great source of heat, however, if they don’t undergo proper maintenance, they can cause fires, explosions, and ultimately, hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage. To avoid a boiler disaster, there are a few things you should consider before starting it up:
The Operating Manual
Boiler manufacturers are required to include an operating manual with each boiler they sell, so when you received your boiler, you should have gotten a manual with it. Before starting up your boiler, consult the manual and follow the directions and/or recommendations for startup.
The Room
To minimize damage risk, make sure that your boiler room is kept clean and well-ventilated. Also make sure that there are no boxes, cleaning supplies, clothing, and other storage items in the room. If something goes wrong, these items can easily catch fire.
The Log
Someone in your company’s maintenance department should be keeping a log of maintenance records. Before you start up your boiler, check the log to see if there have been any problems or unsolved issues recently recorded (such as leaks, wiring issues, pipe issues, and more). If so, you may want to hold off on starting it up.
What to Do
Before you turn on your boiler, know what to do in case of a fire. Review the emergency exit strategy and know where the cut-off switch is located. Also make sure you know where a first-aid kit is and where to access the nearest phone.
Checks
Prior to your boiler startup, check the following:
- Air Openings
- Make sure all combustion and ventilation openings are clear and unobstructed
- Boiler Water Level
- Make sure the water is at the correct level for startup
- Stack Dampers
- Make sure all stack dampers are open
- Wiring
- Make sure there are no frayed or damaged wires
- Manual Fuel Valves
- Make sure that all of the manual fuel valves are open
- Foreign Objects
- Make sure there is nothing unusual near, on, or in the boiler
- Furnace and Flue Passes
- Make sure there is no fuel accumulation in either of these areas
Maintenance Plan
If you don’t already have one in place, set up a maintenance plan with our boiler maintenance experts. We’ll make sure your boiler is operating correctly and that there are no signs of danger to your commercial or industrial business.