Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

We know that renting boilers, whether in an emergency, for scheduled maintenance, or to meet peak-season demands, can be full of surprises. Frequently, even experienced renters are surprised by what isn't included with most rental boilers. And most surprises are expensive - both in time and money.

Before you make a rental commitment call Nationwide Boiler, the "No Surprise" boiler professionals and ask if the above items are included, then call our competitors. We will do whatever it takes to make sure your rental project is a success, without any unpleasant surprise!

1.    Boiler Inspection
Have you inspected the boiler for plugged tubes, age, electrical etc? Some people rent boilers like calling a used car lot, negotiate price and then make a deal over the phone. This can be disastrous.

2.   Freight
Are the freight charges firm? Some boilers may have to take indirect route (road clearance problems) costing many thousand of dollars extra.

3.    In-transit Rental
When does the rent start and stop? On rail shipment, delays are common and your rent can keep running for three or four weeks in each direction adding one-two month's of unexpected rent.

4.    Steam Header Valve
Is one included with the boiler? New ones cost between $2,000.00 and $8,000.00 each.

5.   Blowdown Valves
Are they included? New ones cost $200.00 to $1,000.00 each. Are they mounted or shipped loose?

6.   Voltage
Is the boiler set up for proper voltage prior to shipment? Is the fan starter included? These items can save you money on fieldwork.

7.   Smokestack
Is one included and does it have properly sized transition pieces? Does it have to be shipped on separate truck? Freestanding stacks can be a real problem installing and removing. This can mean considerable fieldwork and expense.

8.   Control Panel
Is the panel mounted on the boiler or shipped loose? Is it weatherproof? Considerable time and expense in field wiring and tubing is common with remote panels.

9.   Guarantee
What will the boiler company cover on parts and callbacks? Some companies say return the broken part to the factory and you pay freight and installation labor.

10.   Economizer
Is one included and is it pre-piped? Do you need separate support and transition pieces? Will it be costly to install and remove?

11.    Blower
Is the blower on the boiler or shipped loose on a separate truck? This could be expensive for freight and installation costs.

12.   Weather Proof
Is the boiler designed for outdoor use? If not, additional cost will be involved to build an enclosure. Electrical controls could be water soaked during installation and shipping.

13.   Hydrostatic Test
Will you be charged for a hydrostatic test when the boiler is returned?

14.   Shipping Damage
Will you have to go back to the carrier to cover broken parts, etc. during shipment or will the rental company assume responsibility?

15.   Loading & Shoring of Refractory
Will you be charged for loading at the storage location including blocking of the firebrick? This can cost $2,000.00 to $5,000.00 and the same when you load out at job-site. This could mean $4,000.00 to $10,000.00 of unexpected cost.

16.   Safety Valves
Are the boiler safety valves set at the proper pressure to protect your steam system? If not, you may need new valves costing $200.00 to over $1,500.000 each or have them reset for $200.00 to over $600.00 each.

17.   Oil Pump
Is a pump set needed and is it included in the rental price? Is it pre-piped and wired as an integral part of the boiler unit? If not included, this could cost $500.00 to $5,000.00 material and labor over the rental cost.

18.    Testing
Has the proposed rental boiler been test fired recently? Is it coming direct from another job without shop check out? If this is the case many start-up problems can develop causing delays.

19.   Maintenance
Will you be charged for routine maintenance when boiler is returned to storage? Some charge for new gaskets, gauge glasses, painting, cleaning, washout, and flat tires on trailer and refractory repairs.

20.   Catwalks & Ladders
Is the boiler supplied with catwalks & ladders? These items can save you valuable time and money during installation and operation. Savings of $500.00 to $2,000.00 in man-hours are not uncommon.

The EPA today proposed a new reporting ruling that would require large, direct emitters of greenhouse gases to comply with new reporting requirements. These would include energy intensive sectors such as cement production, iron and steel production and electricity generation.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson realizes the importance of gathering critical data in order to better understand climate change for a healthier future.  She notes that this proposed requirement will not affect small businesses, but is rather aimed at large businesses, those that have emissions equal to or greater than a threshold of 25,000 metric tons per year.

"Our efforts to confront climate change must be guided by the best possible information. Through this new reporting, we will have comprehensive and accurate data about the production of greenhouse gases. This is a critical step toward helping us better protect our health and environment - all without placing an onerous burden on our nation's small businesses."

The EPA estimates that the expected cost to comply with the reporting requirements to the private sector would be $160 million for the first year. In subsequent years, the annualized costs for the private sector would be $127 million. This rule is being developed under the authority of the Clean Air Act and the proposed rule will be open for public comment for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Two public hearings will be held during the comment period.

Nationwide Boiler's low NOx solutions are developed for companies, large and small, who want to do their part in combating climate change. We have upgraded our fleet of rental boilers with Low NOx equipment in order to easily meet emissions requirements in any part of the county. For those customers wanting even lower emissions our CataStak SCR systems have been proven to reduce NOx emissions below 5 ppm in over 50 installations and that list continues to grow.

Nationwide Boiler is ready to help your facility meet your "green" goals. Contact us today and let us know how we can help.

Click here for more information on the proposed rule.

It is amazing to know that a package boiler can be shipped anywhere in the world within a number of days. Last month Nationwide Boiler supplied a late model 70,000 pph trailer-mounted watertube boiler to Powerhouse Equipment & Engineering Company, our East Coast Partner, for a sale to a ConocoPhillips LNG plant in Australia. The boiler, along with a new Powerhouse supplied 75,000 pph skid-mounted watertube boiler was airlifted on the Antonov AN124-100 aircraft from San Francisco International airport to Darwin, Australia. It took a total of three days for the boilers to reach their final destination, having to stop for re-fueling in Alaska, Russia and the Philippines.

Over the last seven years, the Antonov has also been used to ship our boilers to New Brunswick and the Philippines. Also, five of our boilers have been shipped to Wales, Israel, Venezuela and Malaysia and several of our trailer-mounted watertube boilers have gone to China and Scotland for rental projects (via special transport ship).

By air, land, rail and sea, you can depend on Nationwide Boiler to deliver quality equipment and cost effective solutions anywhere in the world. 

I just finished reading a good book recently published by Ram Charan called Leadership in the Era of Economic Uncertainty. He said "when we think about the CEO's job, it is helpful to divide it into two realms: leadership and operations. This first is about inspiring and motivating people to go beyond their fears and painting a believable future that is waiting after the storm. The second is about the daily nitty-gritty of doing business successfully in a very tough and unpredictable environment."

The latter is easier to do - grind it out.  The tougher part is to inspire and motivate other when things look real bad. But I believe there is strength in numbers and you don't have to go it alone. Draw in your best people and ask them what they think and will do in this tough economic environment.

Our Environmental Solutions Business Unit Vice President, Robert Remkes, has coined a phrase this year, "Boots on the Ground." We are rallying around the idea that we need to be involved with our customers as much as we can. We cannot go it alone without them either and that they may have some of the best ideas yet to be discovered.

Hang in there. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know. This blog is one way to communicate with us and I hope you will find it useful. Please let me know.

Jeff Shallcross