Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

The proper removal of rental boiler equipment is a critical step when renting boilers and it ensures the safe return of equipment to the rental company's facility. It also reduces the risk of additional costs to the customer. By taking a few precautionary steps as described below, the boiler can be properly prepared for pick-up and shipment.

Drain & Flush

First, completely drain and flush all the boiler lines with clean water and open all water drain valves. This will minimize the chance of any corrosion and hard caused by unforeseen freezing conditions.

Inspect

Second, Inspect all fireside and waterside surfaces and report any visual damage, scale build-up, or refractory problems. Having photographic evidence of the boiler condition after the rental period is advisable.

Stack Removal

Next, the stack should be removed, remounted and Bolt down stub stack, non-return valve, safety valves and vent valve to trailer (same location as it was received).

• Cover all boiler openings (stack, steam, gas, water, electrical panel, safety valve openings)


• If trailer is disassembled, reattach wheels and gooseneck


• Check tire pressure


• Return all instruction and operating manuals to the rental company via the trucker or transportation company responsible for returning the unit

If you have questions about preparing your unit for pick-up, don't hesitate to call Nationwide Boiler at 800-227-1966.

Nationwide Boiler is excited to announce that we now have an additional storage and maintenance facility to better serve our customers in the Central United States. The facility is owned by Applied Global Cogeneration (AGC) and is located in Broken Arrow, OK. The 112,000 square foot manufacturing and test facility has ample space for our large trailer-mounted watertube rental units and stock boilers. 

We now have eight total storage facilities positioned across the United States. Other locations include California, Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. 

Having several different locations for equipment storage allows Nationwide Boiler to provide customers with dependable solutions and real customer service, getting equipment out quickly and saving money on delivery costs.

For more information on the new storage location and what our Director of Sales, Bill Testa has to say, check out our latest press release.

Cleaver-Brooks hosts a number of informative and educational webinars throughout the year.

Be sure to check out the next webinar, scheduled for September 26, 2018 at 2:00pm EST. The material will be focused on educating boiler operators and owners why preventative maintenance is so important. What routine boiler maintenance tasks are required? What is the recommended frequency of each task? All of these questions, and more, will be covered.

Cleaver-Brooks' Warranty & Service Manager John Pemerton will host the webinar - and you won't want to miss it!

Register today!

Routine boiler maintenance is imperative not only for safety, but also to sustain efficiency and reliability of your system. Being proactive rather than reactive is likely to increase the longevity of your boiler as well as help prevent incidents that can result in injuries, damage, or worse. Incorporating routine maintenance into your facilities day-to-day operations will prove its worth with a great deal of short- and long-term benefits.

There are certain maintenance tasks that should be performed daily, and others that should be performed periodically. Below we have provided a list of best practices to follow when putting together your routine boiler maintenance plan.

On a daily basis, you should track and keep a log of the following items:

• Boiler pressure and temperature
• Stack temperature, to determine operational efficiency (a well-tuned boiler should have a stack temperature range of 50 – 100 degrees above the steam or water temperature)
• Gas pressure to the regulator, as well as downstream from it
• Water quality and pH levels, to ensure you are meeting the recommended levels

Blowdown of the boiler (bottom blow) and water column should also be performed on a daily basis. In addition, you should observe boiler and auxiliary equipment daily to ensure proper operation and that there is no damage, leaks, or unusual behavior. 

On a weekly to monthly basis, it’s important to conduct additional visual inspections and observe the operation of certain components for areas that may need to be addressed. This includes:

• Gauge glass
• Fuel supply valves
• Operating and modulating controls, water level controls
• Flame scanner & burner flame pattern
• High- and low-pressure switches, combustion air proving switch
• Indicating lights and alarms

When it comes to the burner, you should inspect the valves, pilot tube, and diffuser thoroughly for any signs of wear that might call for a repair. Also, be sure to observe the entirety of the boiler system for potential hot spots (an indicator of deteriorated refractory) and again, be sure to keep an eye out for any leaks of fuel, water, or flue gas.

Lastly, there are certain items that should be performed on a semi-annual to annual basis. Many of the tasks below can be checked off during the annual inspection, when the boiler is taken offline:

• Open access doors and inspect the fireside of the boiler
• Inspect boiler and tubes for evidence of corrosion; clean tubes and tube sheets thoroughly
• Examine the refractory for large cracks (greater than 1/8”) and patch as necessary
• Conduct safety tests on the gas valves
• Review all electrical connections for tightness, signs of wiring wear
• Check pump alignment on all base-mount pumps

This is also a good time to fully inspect the auxiliaries that provide fuel, air, water, and chemicals to the boiler. In addition, combustion should be reset periodically with the use of a combustion analyzer, for accurate readings of NOx, CO, and O2.

While the guidelines above provide a good baseline of tasks to perform when it comes to routine maintenance, be sure to consider the boiler manufacturer’s recommendations as well.