Skip to main content

About Nationwide Boiler

Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

Nationwide Boiler news and events, industry updates, technical resources and more. You hear it first on The Nationwide Boiler Blog!

Nationwide Boiler's 2025 Tradeshow Lineup

As a leader in the boiler industry, Nationwide Boiler understands the value of staying connected with industry professionals, customers, and partners to share insights, discuss advancements, and highlight our vast selection of boiler solutions. Tradeshows and industry events are an essential part of our commitment to delivering the best in everything we do. From boiler rental equipment to package boilers for sale, and custom control systems to emissions control solutions, we strive to provide reliable equipment and real customer service while satisfying the unique needs of each and every client.

With a variety of tradeshows on the schedule for this year, these events allow us to showcase our expertise, introduce cutting-edge technologies, and engage directly with those looking to optimize their operations. Whether you’re interested in rental boilers, custom equipment solutions, or emissions compliance, our team is ready to discuss how we can help meet your needs. Be sure to mark your calendars and visit us at one of the many events we’ll be exhibiting at in 2025!

  1. IDEA Campus Energy 2025 – February 3-6, 2025
    Boston, Massachusetts
    A dynamic event bringing together district energy leaders and innovators to explore the latest trends and technologies specifically geared towards colleges and university campuses. With expert sessions and networking opportunities, IDEA Campus is the perfect place to collaborate, learn, and discover new business opportunities.
  1. Food Processing Expo – February 5-6, 2025
    Sacramento, California
    A premier event for the food processing industry, featuring the latest technologies, equipment, and innovations. The Expo offers valuable networking opportunities, educational sessions, and insights into trends shaping the future of food production.
  1. WRBA Conference – March 25-27, 2025
    Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
    A key event for boiler industry professionals, offering networking, education, and insights on the latest technologies and safety practices.
  1. Western Turbine Users Conference – March 30 - April 2, 2025
    Long Beach, California
    A leading conference for turbine industry professionals, offering opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and insights into the latest turbine technologies and best practices.

In addition to these major events, we’ll also be attending:

  • WSSHE Spring Symposium – April 16-18, 2025
  • API Spring Meeting – May 5-9, 2025
  • IDEA Annual Conference – June 2-5, 2025
  • PRIME Expo – August 19, 2025

As we gear up for a great year ahead, we’re excited about the upcoming events and the opportunity to strengthen our connections within the industry. Follow Nationwide Boiler on the various social media platforms to stay informed about where we’ll be throughout the year, and be sure to visit us at our booth to learn more about how our team can provide solutions that will improve the efficiency and sustainability of your operations.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationwide-boiler-inc-

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationwideBoiler

Find our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NationwideBoiler

  5075 Hits

Hollywood Turns to Nationwide Boiler During Filming of Titanic

Shortly before midnight on April 14, 1912, the “safest and most luxurious passenger ship ever built” hit an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast. After lying dead in the water for about two-and-a-half hours, her bow began to submerge. In just minutes, this giant ship was nearly vertical, her stern soaring hundreds of feet in the frigid night air. Great plumes of steam billowed from her four stacks as she began her long descent to the bottom of the sea. More than 1,500 people stood on the decks singing “Nearer My God to Thee” as she slid beneath the waves taking them with her to their watery grave, thousands of feet below. That was the maiden voyage of the most famous luxury liner ever built, the White Star Lines’ Titanic. And it was the worst disaster in commercial naval history.
1 24a
Fifty-five years later, almost to the day, a crew of Hollywood actors, technicians, directors, camera operators, and the myriad others required to make a modern motion picture gathered a few miles south of Rosarito Beach on the west coast of Mexico’s Baja, California peninsula to recreate that dreadful night. To duplicate the steam erupting from the Titanic’s exploding boilers, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures – all of whom are involved in the picture – turned to Nationwide Boiler.

A few weeks before filming of the sinking sequence began, Nationwide Boiler sales engineer, Russell Rabago received a call from one of the film’s special effects coordinators inquiring about the availability of a steam plant for use in the film. Within days, Russ was on his way to Mexico to examine the location and make sure about all the details. By late January, two of Nationwide’s mobile steam plants were loaded on trucks and headed to the border. Within days of their arrival, they were making steam. During filming, the steam provided by Nationwide Boiler’s equipment was used to simulate the effect of exploding boilers as the Titanic sunk. During filming of the Titanic’s sinking, “Even the stunt people looked scared when they saw the dailies of the 90-degree angle shot,” reported Francis Fisher, one of the lead actors in the film.

Titanic is one of the most expensive movies ever made. Currently, the estimated cost is $150 million. Although originally scheduled for a summer release, it is now planned to be in theaters this winter. To get a better idea why Titanic required such an enormous investment, consider the facility where the sinking sequence was simulated. First, new studio facilities were built. Next, an 80-foot-long model of the ship was constructed. Then the model was floated in a 180-million-gallon tank, constructed specifically for this sequence. And all this construction was only for the exterior shots. Interior sequences were filmed earlier over a period of many months.

“We’re not sure if Nationwide Boiler’s name will appear when the screen credits roll, but we’ll be watching,” says Mr. Rabago. “From everything that’s been reported so far, it will be a film like Gone with the Wind, which everyone will view sooner or later, and one they’ll be talking about for years to come.” Someday, Mr. Rabago will probably tell his grandchildren about the important part he played in making one of the greatest motion picture spectaculars of all time.

This article was originally featured in the Summer 1997 edition of our Steamlines newsletter.
  4302 Hits

Essential Steps for Safe and Efficient Rental Boiler Equipment Return

At the end of a rental boiler project, proper decommissioning is key to ensure safe transport back to the rental boiler supplier and to avoid any unforeseen costs. It’s not just about disconnecting and moving the equipment - taking a few simple precautions can prevent potential damage and ensure everything is ready for return. Review and follow the steps below for a smooth, hassle-free pick-up and return of your rental boiler equipment.

Drain & Flush

Start by thoroughly draining and flushing all the boiler lines with clean water, making sure all water drain valves are fully opened. This step helps eliminate any remaining water that could cause corrosion or freeze damage, potentially harming the system during transport or storage. Flushing the lines also removes debris and buildup, improving the boiler’s performance for future use.

Inspect

Next, take the time to carefully inspect both the fireside and waterside surfaces for any visible damage, scale buildup, or issues with the refractory lining. These areas are crucial to the boiler’s efficiency, and any damage or buildup could lead to serious problems later. It’s also a good idea to take clear photos of the boiler’s condition at the end of the rental period. This way, there is a record to reference in case there are any questions or concerns about its condition when returned.

Equipment Prep for Removal

The stack and other components that were installed upon arrival to the jobsite should be removed and mounted back on the rental boiler trailer and/or shipping skid. Be sure to securely bolt the stub stack, non-return valve, safety valves, and vent valve back into place, just as they were when the equipment was delivered. Aligning everything properly ensures that each component stays in place during transport, avoiding movement or potential damage.

Additional equipment prep should be completed as follows:

  1. Cover all boiler openings: this includes the stack, steam, gas, and water connections, electrical panel, and safety valve openings.
  1. Reattach running gear and gooseneck: If the trailer was taken apart for transport, ensure that the running gear and gooseneck are properly reattached before moving the trailer.
  1. Check tire pressure: Before transport, it's important to check the tire pressure of the trailer. Make sure the tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended levels for optimal performance and safety.

By following these steps the return process becomes seamless, protecting the rental boiler, feed system or auxiliary equipment and ensuring that everything is handled properly from start to finish. If you have questions about preparing for the return delivery of your rental boiler equipment, don't hesitate to call Nationwide Boiler at 800-227-1966.

  4666 Hits

Nationwide Boiler Highlights Deaerator Best Practices at the 2025 WRBA Conference

The 2025 Western Regional Boiler Association (WRBA) Conference, held March 25-27 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, brought together boiler industry professionals for a dynamic exchange of ideas, insights, and innovations. Scott Best, Sales Engineer at Nationwide Boiler, presented an insightful session on deaerators, emphasizing the critical role deaerators play in maintaining efficient boiler operations.

Spotlight on Scott Best’s Presentation: "A Deep Dive into Deaerators"Scott

Best’s presentation provided a comprehensive overview of deaerators—essential yet often overlooked components of boiler systems. He emphasized their crucial role in emoving dissolved gases from boiler feedwater, helping to prevent corrosion and enhance overall system efficiency.

Deaerators play a vital role in removing dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide from boiler feedwater. This process prevents corrosion, improves heat transfer, and ensures the longevity of boilers and auxiliary equipment. 

Best explained the key principles of deaerator operation, including how pegging steam interacts with feedwater to effectively strip away dissolved gases. It is important to maintain pegging steam at the saturation point to maximize deaeration efficiency. Best also discussed the impact of high-pressure condensate on the deaerator’s energy balance and outlined strategies for recovering heat that would otherwise be wasted.

Proper sizing of feedwater pumps is crucial for ensuring sufficient Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH), which helps prevent cavitation and maintains pump efficiency. Best clarified the difference between overflow capacity and working capacity, helping operators understand how to size and operate deaerators within optimal ranges.

The session covered various types of deaerators, including tray-type and spray-type designs, and provided guidance on selecting the right type based on system requirements. Best offered practical tips on monitoring performance, conducting routine maintenance, and troubleshooting common issues to ensure long-term reliability.

Benefits of Optimized Deaerator Performance

By applying best practices for deaerator operation and maintenance, operators can significantly enhance boiler performance. Improved heat transfer and reduced energy consumption lead to increased efficiency, while minimizing corrosion-related damage extends the lifespan of equipment. Additionally, optimized deaerator performance enhances system responsiveness, ensuring greater operational reliability. These benefits not only improve daily operations but also help reduce downtime and lower long-term costs associated with repairs and replacements.  

Deaerators play a fundamental role in maintaining boiler system efficiency and reliability, yet they are often overlooked. As Best outlined, neglecting these components can lead to inefficiencies, reduced equipment lifespan, and costly repairs. By shedding light on this critical topic, we at Nationwide Boiler reinforce our commitment to industry education and providing customers with practical, effective solutions. 

Nationwide Boiler’s Continued Leadership

Nationwide Boiler’s participation at WRBA 2025 exemplifies our dedication to fostering education and innovation within the boiler industry. As a leader in providing reliable boiler solutions—from rental boiler equipment to custom control systems—we consistently demonstrate our expertise through thought leadership at key industry events.

By focusing on best practices for deaerator selection, operation, and maintenance, Nationwide Boiler aims to help customers optimize their steam systems for greater efficiency and sustainability. For more information on Nationwide Boiler's deaerator solutions and other boiler-related services, visit www.nationwideboiler.com or contact Scott Best at sbest@nationwideboiler.com.

  3397 Hits