Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

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.  

Nationwide Boiler is actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and has enacted a semi-remote protocol to help “flatten the curve”. Please understand that we are still fully operational and able to support the many essential industries that we serve, including our hospitals and medical care facilities / suppliers, food processors, petroleum refineries, pulp and paper plants, manufacturing, and electrical power generation facilities. Rest assured that if an emergency need arises and a rental boiler is required quickly, we will be able to fulfill any request as we would on a typical operating basis.

Our sales, engineering and marketing teams are working remote and are fully accessible via email and phone calls. Our accounting team is working diligently to continue the functions necessary for day-to-day operations, and we have a partial shipping and receiving protocol in place with employees available on stand-by if a piece of equipment needs to get serviced and ready to ship out. At our offices, we have implemented additional measures as recommended by the CDC and the federal government, including a higher focus on cleaning and sanitizing commonly touched surfaces and the practice of social distancing. Lastly, we are restricting all non-essential travel and will carefully review and approve any essential travel to continue providing service and support.

We at Nationwide Boiler realize that this global situation affects many business and individuals, and we are here to provide as much support as possible while practicing the necessary measures to slow the outbreak. Our customers depend on us, and we will not let you down even in these uncertain times. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates via our social media channels as they arise.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns: info@nationwideboiler.com.

Michele Tomas - VP Finance
"The tides of the boiler industry are shifting, where more women are being recognized for their valuable contributions to organizations that serve the needs of steam generation. As a leader at Nationwide, I feel empowered to have my voice, as well as others, heard within the organization. Our skills and inputs are not only recognized, but are known and credited as vital inputs to the ongoing success of the company."                                       

Holly Lepo - Quality Control & Facilities Manager
“Because of my years of service and the numerous job positions that I have held, I have had a unique opportunity to see how Nationwide has grown in terms of Women in the workplace. From a time when we had Women only in clerical positions to now when we have many Women in management, accounting, engineering, marketing, and quality control. I have had the honor of working closely with and getting to know most of our Women.  It is wonderful to see how Women have advanced into the Working Women of today.

One of my favorite outside activities is to hop in my RV and venture out with my Women’s group, friends, and family.  Of course, at one time it would be quite unusual to see a Woman driving, maintaining, and setting up an RV by herself!”

Chelsey Ryker - Marketing Manager
“I enjoy being part of the small group of working women in the boiler industry, and I appreciate the many opportunities for growth that I have received at Nationwide. It’s nice to work for a company that promotes a work-life balance, with flexibility that allows me to be a working mother of two. And as a woman that is part of the leadership team, I feel empowered to provide new ideas that will help improve processes and day-to-day activities throughout the company.”

Shalini Kumar - Senior Accountant
“I feel that I have made an impact at Nationwide in many ways since I started working here in January 2018. I have made processes more clean and organized, and I have made many employees in the company feel that I am a “go-to” person. They know that I will definitely try to assist them or guide them to the appropriate person. I always try to be positive and have a smile on my face, in hopes of bringing a smile to others in the company and allowing them feel comfortable approaching me.”

Sandy Nevels - Shop Admin
“I feel that I make an impact working at Nationwide by always be willing to do whatever it takes to get my tasks done quickly and efficiently.

I enjoy being part of a team and I am always willing to help out my co-workers when needed. People often come to me with questions about certain work topics and I direct them to the proper person to which they can get the answer, or I volunteer myself to assist. You can say I’m helpful and a go-to person. Although I am Holly’s admin,  I also enjoy assisting the shop, service, and other departments throughout the company when needed.

When I’m out of the office for an extended period of time, I am told that I was missed and that people are glad that I’m back, which makes me feel valued. I always come to work with a positive mindset and try to make each day the best it can be.”

Ruthy Brand - Office Admin
“I like volunteering, cooking, travelling, and spending time with my family and friends. In fact, this coming Saturday, I am volunteering for my second year with California Dental Association (CDA).  Twice a year they provide free dental works for Northern California and Southern California residents.”

The women at Nationwide Boiler truly are remarkable and appreciated every day. Celebrate International Women’s Day and don’t forget to tell the women around you how much you appreciate them.

To kick-off our ‘Boiler Basics 101’ series, we are starting at the very beginning. The extremely useful resource, produced by the commercial and industrial boilers that we rent, sell, service and maintain… that resource is steam.

Our business, and the boiler industry as a whole, revolves around steam. We provide boilers and related equipment for both temporary and permanent applications; equipment that works together to produce the valuable resource of steam, utilized in an abundance of processes across many different industries. So, what exactly is steam and what is it used for?

Let’s start with the chemical composition of steam. Water can exist in three physical states; solid, liquid, and vapor. These physical states, in more common terms, are referred to as ice, water, and steam. When water is heated at atmospheric pressure, its temperature rises until it reaches the highest temperature at which water can exist at this pressure. This temperature, 212F or 100C, is the saturation temperature, or boiling point. As water boils and temperature continues to increase, water particles begin to form small bubbles that rise to the surface and vaporize. This is how steam is formed.

Traditionally, steam was associated with locomotives and the Industrial Revolution. However, now steam is an integral part of modern-day technology. Not only is it an excellent source of energy and heat, but it is also sterile, which makes it ideal for use in the food, pharmaceutical, and health industries. Many other industries also utilize steam for processing, petroleum refining, utility and power, and manufacturing.

Steam has become an invaluable part of our world.  Without it, many of the advances and technologies in today’s time would not be as effective or efficient as they are now.

Stay tuned for the next article in our Boiler Basics 101 series to learn about the basic anatomy of a boiler system.