Boiler Tips For The

Winter Months

Boiler Tips for the Winter Months

Winter often inspires apprehension in people due
to the implications of harsh weather conditions.
In addition to causing personal discomfort at
home or in the workplace, snow, ice, and extreme
cold can cause significantand in some cases
irrevocabledamage to your boiler system.
Due to this, its vital to make the necessary
preparations before winter rears its head.
The transition period from summer to winter
is the most ideal time to perform preventative
maintenance on your boiler. This maintenance
is beneficial to enhancing a boilers reliability,
efficiency, and safety.
Much like other commercial or industrial machines, boilers require annual inspection and servicing in order to operate
at peak proficiency. Unfortunately, many proprietors of boiler systems fail to get their equipment serviced, leading to
high energy usage and costs, and to eventual breakdown of components.
Most boilers have a service life span of 10-15 years, which can be augmented with preventative maintenance, but you
should be aware that your boiler isnt meant to last forever. Boiler Supplies understands that there are many factors involved
with cold weather usage of boilers, so weve compiled information on how you can prepare for the winter months.
Winter Boiler Checklist
As we mentioned previously, its ideal to prep your boiler as the summer draws to a close. Due to the summer heat,
its likely that your boiler has been dormant for a few monthsthis is a great opportunity to assess the condition of the
boiler, and to get ready for the upcoming cold weather.
Heres a checklist of helpful preventative maintenance methods for your boiler:
R
 ecalculate and recertify all safety valves in the system.
Safety valves are often instrumental in preventing boiler system failures caused by excessive pressure. More
modernized boilers utilize several safety checks and controls, but the system will benefit from having a safety relief
valve that functions properly. Be sure to schedule a check of the safety valve to determine if theres a need for repair
and/or replacement.
R
 eplace handhole/manhole gaskets.
Any leakage found in handhole or manhole gaskets can mean serious system complications if not corrected
immediately. Minimal or recurrent leaks may seem inconsequential, but even the smallest leak can cause nearby
boiler and handhole/manhole plate surfaces to deteriorate over time. In order for your boiler to operate safely this
winter, you must replace damaged gaskets as soon as they are discovered.

143 McDonough Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253

www.boilersupplies.com

(800) 780-3776

pg.2

 R
 ecalculate your boilers
pressure gauges.
No matter how advanced or oldfashioned your boiler is, most of these
machines will utilize various pressure
gauges, which are prominently
mounted on the boiler itself. Pressure
gauges help to monitor the boilers
operation, and alert someone to
potentially hazardous pressure
conditions within the system. Like the
boiler itself, pressure gauges arent
meant to last forever; over time, the
accuracy of these gauges diminishes,
prompting their recalibration. Be sure to
schedule verification and recalibration of
all pressure gauges for the safest results.
R
 eplace flat glass, tubular glass, and gauges.
Conventional analog boiler gauges are simple devices that allow the user to easily view the operation and fluid
level of the system. These gauges dont have many moving parts, and are often based on dependable designs;
hence, the average analog gauge requires little maintenance. However, if the flat or tubular viewing (or sight glass)
of the gauge becomes damaged and isnt replaced, this can evolve into a major weak point in the boiler system. To
significantly reduce downtime and to keep others safe, maintain proper upkeep on all glass gauges.
I nspect and replace boiler fireside & waterside.
As the seasons change, it becomes even more important to replace boiler fireside and watersideBoiler Supplies
can provide fireside and waterside kits to help replace any faulty head, burner drawer, or burner housing gaskets,
as well as fasteners, rivets, baffles, and other components. Note: our fireside and waterside kits have comparable
replacement components for Cleaver Brooks brand boilers.
A visual inspection of all boiler refractories, tubes, tube sheets and furnaces should be conducted annually.
Fireside: Open the boiler and using a flashlight, assess the conditions of nearby surfaces. Look for signs of blistering
this indicates corrosion that was caused by condensing gases. This condensation can potentially create an acidic
solution strong enough to eat through boiler components.
Waterside: These components are also prone to corrosion (usually originating from above the water drum).
If your tube thicknesses are less than half of their original state, they require full replacement. Look for signs of tube
pitting, usually caused by excessive exposure to oxygen.

143 McDonough Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253

www.boilersupplies.com

(800) 780-3776

pg.3

 P
 repare your boilers pipes appropriately.
Extreme cold can cause severe damage to your boilermore specifically, the
boilers pipes. If your boiler isnt operating at all and a total shutdown occurs,
this could signal a frozen condensate pipe; this pipe transfers condensation
from the boiler to its outside drain, so its critically vital to your heating efforts.
Take the time to insulate your pipesalso known as winterizingbefore the
cold weather arrives.
First, make sure the boiler is switched off. Locate the condensate pipe, which
can usually be found on the external wall adjacent to your boilers location,
and make sure that you can reach the pipe from the ground.
Next, warm up some water and pour it along the pipes lengthrepeat this step two to three times. Make sure the
water is warm and not boiling; if the water is boiling, this can result in the pipe cracking and breaking.
To prevent the pipe from freezing over again, wrap it tightly and securely with some clothstowels work well for
this step. After the pipe is thawed, you can then insulate it using your choice of tubing. This insulation is available in
various sizes, so be sure to measure the diameter of your pipe before installing anything.
Consult Boiler Supplies for your Boiler Needs
Your boiler will eventually break down, but you can get the most out of it with proper maintenance. Boiler Supplies can
provide you with fast, reliable 24-hour a day service to meet any of your boiler repair needs. Our product offerings include:

G
 age Glass
T ubular and Flat Glass
G
 lass Cutters
C
 ushion and Grafoil Gaskets
F ireside and Waterside Kits
B
 lowndown Valve Repair And Replacement Valves
L ow Water Cut Offs And Repair Kits
E
 ngineer Logbooks
S
 team Traps And Steam Trap Kits

No one should be left out in the cold, so make sure you take the necessary steps for winter preventative maintenance of
your boiler. If you have any questions regarding our products or service, or if you quickly need replacement parts, dont
hesitate to contact our team today.

143 McDonough Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253

www.boilersupplies.com

(800) 780-3776

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