Rental Boiler "No Surprise" Checklist
Inspection of Rental Boiler Equipment
Before committing to a rental boiler, it's important to inspect the equipment to ensure it meets your project's requirements. Check the overall condition of the boiler, including tube cleanliness, age, electrical systems, controls, and general mechanical condition. Choosing a temporary boiler rental based solely on price—without inspecting the equipment—can lead to unexpected delays, startup issues, and costly downtime.
At Nationwide Boiler, we encourage customers to visit one of our shops or storage facilities to perform a thorough inspection of the rental boiler equipment before it is shipped. Our team is available to answer questions, review equipment specifications, and demonstrate the condition of the boiler, giving you confidence that your industrial boiler rental will arrive ready for safe, reliable operation. By inspecting the equipment in advance, you can help eliminate surprises during installation and ensure your temporary steam solution is prepared to meet your operational needs.
Rental Term Beginning and End
Understanding when your rental boiler agreement begins and ends is an important part of planning a temporary steam project. For equipment shipped by rail, transportation delays can sometimes extend the overall rental period by several weeks in each direction, resulting in unexpected rental costs.
Nationwide Boiler's rental period begins when the equipment leaves our storage facility and ends when it is returned to the storage location. Because much of our rental fleet consists of trailer-mounted boilers or equipment that can be shipped by truck, customers often benefit from faster delivery, reduced transportation delays, and lower logistics costs compared to rail shipments. This approach helps facilities better manage project schedules while minimizing unexpected expenses associated with temporary boiler rentals.
Freight Costs for Shipping To and From Storage Location
Before selecting a rental boiler, ask whether the quoted freight charges are firm or estimated. Transporting large industrial boiler equipment may require specialized routing due to bridge heights, road clearances, weight restrictions, permit requirements, or oversized-load regulations. These factors can affect the delivery schedule and increase boiler transportation costs.
Nationwide Boiler coordinates the shipment of rental boilers and auxiliary equipment to help ensure safe, efficient delivery to the job site. Because final freight costs may depend on routing and transportation requirements, charges are often estimated in advance. Our team keeps customers informed of any changes throughout the shipping process, helping facilities plan their rental boiler project and avoid unexpected logistics costs.
Nationwide Boiler's Rental Guarantee
Ask what is covered under the rental agreement, including replacement parts, field service, callbacks, labor, and freight. Some rental providers require customers to return defective parts to the factory and cover the associated shipping, installation, and labor costs, which can lead to unexpected expenses and extended downtime.
Our Rental Guarantee is built on Integrity, Dependability, and Real Customer Service. If a defective part or component fails during the rental period due to a manufacturing or equipment defect—not negligence or improper maintenance—we will repair or replace it promptly at no cost to the renter, including both labor and materials. Ask our team for additional details about the Nationwide Boiler Rental Guarantee and the coverage available with your rental boiler.
Pre-Rental Fire Testing
A rental boiler should be thoroughly tested before it arrives at your facility. If the boiler is shipped directly from a previous job without being inspected and test-fired, startup issues can occur, leading to unexpected delays and additional costs. To help ensure reliable performance, all rental boiler equipment is thoroughly inspected and test-fired after each rental whenever possible and again before it is dispatched to the next project. This process helps verify proper operation, reduce startup issues, and ensure your temporary boiler rental is ready for safe, dependable service from day one.
Rental Boiler Controls
Rental Boiler Steam Header Valves
Before selecting a rental boiler, confirm whether a steam header valve is included with the equipment. Purchasing a new steam header valve can add $2,000 to $8,000 or more to your project, increasing both installation costs and lead times. A steam header valve is included with our rental boilers as standard equipment. By providing this essential component, we help reduce unexpected costs, simplify installation, and ensure your temporary boiler rental is ready for fast, efficient startup.
Safety Valve Settings
Properly sized and calibrated boiler safety valves are essential for protecting your steam system and maintaining safe operation. If the safety valves are not set to the correct pressure, replacement valves may be required, potentially adding $200 to more than $1,500 per valve to your project costs.
Every rental boiler system is supplied with safety valves set to the appropriate design pressure. If your application requires a different set pressure or additional safety valve capacity, the system can be modified to meet your project-specific requirements for an additional charge.
Oil Pump Availability for Oil Fired Applications
For rental boilers firing No. 2 fuel oil, verify whether an oil pump is required and whether it is included as part of the rental package. Also confirm if the pump is pre-piped and pre-wired as an integral part of the boiler system. If not included, adding an oil pump and completing the required installation can increase project costs by $500 to $5,000 in materials and labor.
Our rental boiler fleet includes a wide range of sizes and configurations to support diverse steam applications. Some boiler systems are equipped with oil pumps and can operate on multiple fuels, including natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil, while others are configured for natural gas with an LPG option. Refer to the specifications for each rental boiler to determine the available fuel options and equipment configuration.
Rental Boiler Voltage Requirements
Before your rental boiler is shipped, confirm that it is configured for your facility's required voltage and determine whether the fan starter is included with the system. Having these items properly configured before delivery can reduce field wiring, simplify installation, and help minimize startup time and labor costs.
Every rental boiler in our fleet includes a comprehensive drawing package that outlines voltage requirements, electrical connection locations, and all equipment and components supplied with the rental boiler system. This documentation helps streamline installation and ensures your temporary boiler rental is ready for safe, efficient operation.
Rental Boiler Blowdown Valves
Confirm that blowdown valves are included with the rental boiler and determine whether they are shipped pre-mounted or separately. Purchasing new blowdown valves can add $200 to $1,000 each to your project, while separately shipped components may increase installation time and labor costs.
Every rental boiler in our fleet includes blowdown valves as standard equipment, and they remain mounted during shipment whenever possible. This helps simplify installation, reduce field labor, and ensure your temporary boiler rental is ready for fast, efficient startup.
Rental Boiler Fan
When selecting a rental boiler, verify whether the forced draft (FD) fan is permanently mounted to the boiler or shipped separately. A fan that requires separate transportation can increase freight costs, installation time, and field labor, particularly for larger boiler rental projects.
Our fleet of rental boilers up to 70,000 lb/hr can typically be shipped with the forced draft fan permanently installed, helping simplify transportation and reduce installation time. For boilers rated at 75,000 lb/hr and above, the fan is shipped separately to comply with road transportation regulations and is installed at the job site as part of the commissioning process.
Economizers for Added Fuel Efficiency
Verify whether your rental boiler includes an economizer, whether it is pre-piped, and if additional support structures or transition pieces are required for installation. These factors can affect installation time, project costs, and overall boiler efficiency. Recovering waste heat with an economizer can improve fuel efficiency, reduce operating costs, and enhance the performance of your temporary boiler rental.
Our fleet of rental boilers rated at 75,000 lb/hr and above includes an economizer as standard equipment. For watertube boilers where an economizer is not standard, one can often be added as an option to meet your project requirements. On watertube boiler packages up to 82,500 lb/hr, the economizer is pre-piped and mounted directly above the exhaust stack, eliminating the need for a separate support structure and helping simplify installation.
Catwalks and Ladders
When evaluating a rental boiler, verify whether catwalks and ladders are included with the equipment. These components can significantly simplify installation, improve operator access, and enhance safety during operation and routine maintenance. If they are not included, additional labor and installation costs may be incurred, resulting in $500 to $2,000 in potential labor savings.
Many of our larger watertube rental boiler systems are equipped with catwalks and ladders as standard equipment. Confirming these features in advance can help streamline installation, reduce field labor, and improve accessibility throughout your temporary boiler rental project.
Exhaust Stack / Stub Stack
Verify whether an exhaust stack is included with your rental boiler and whether it can be shipped mounted to the boiler or requires separate transportation. Freestanding stacks often require additional field labor, equipment, and installation time, increasing overall project costs. Every rental boiler system includes a stub stack as standard equipment. For most boilers in our rental fleet, the stack can remain mounted to the trailer during shipment, helping reduce installation time, minimize fieldwork, and simplify your temporary boiler rental project.
Boiler Weatherproofing Requirements
Verify that your rental boiler is designed for outdoor operation. If the boiler is not weatherproof, additional costs may be incurred to construct a temporary enclosure and protect the equipment from the elements. Exposure to rain and other weather conditions during transportation, installation, or operation can damage electrical controls and delay startup.
The majority of our rental boiler fleet is designed for outdoor use, providing reliable performance in a variety of operating environments. For applications in freezing conditions, additional freeze protection measures may be required to help protect the boiler and auxiliary equipment and ensure safe, dependable operation throughout the rental period.
Loading of Equipment / Shoring of Refractory
Loading procedures can vary between boiler rental providers, so it's important to understand what is included in the rental agreement. Some companies charge separately for loading the equipment, blocking the firebrick for transportation, and preparing the boiler for shipment. These services can cost $2,000 to $5,000 when the equipment is dispatched and another $2,000 to $5,000 when it is returned, potentially adding $4,000 to $10,000 in unexpected project costs.
Although the boiler rental period begins when the equipment leaves the storage facility, loading, labor, and firebrick protection required to prepare the equipment for shipment are included. This approach helps reduce unexpected costs while ensuring your rental boiler is properly prepared for safe transportation and reliable operation.
Shipping Damage & Insurance
Before renting a boiler, ask who is responsible for damage that may occur during transportation. Understanding whether the carrier or the rental provider assumes responsibility for shipping-related damage can help prevent unexpected repair costs and project delays.
Our rental boiler fleet is protected by gap insurance to help cover damage that may occur while equipment is in transit to or from a customer's site. This added protection helps simplify the shipping process and provides greater peace of mind throughout your boiler rental project.
Hydrostatic Testing
Ask whether a hydrostatic test will be required when the rental boiler is returned and whether any associated costs are included in the rental agreement. Some rental providers may charge for hydrostatic testing as part of the return process, increasing the overall cost of your temporary boiler rental.
A hydrostatic test is only required if the rental boiler is returned with damage that necessitates tube repairs or other pressure-retaining component repairs. This approach helps customers avoid unnecessary testing costs while ensuring the boiler continues to meet safety and performance standards before returning to service.
Post-Rental Equipment Maintenance
Routine maintenance charges can vary between boiler rental providers, so it's important to understand what is included when the equipment is returned. Some companies charge separately for replacement gaskets, gauge glasses, painting, cleaning, washouts, flat tire repairs, refractory repairs, and other routine maintenance items, which can increase the overall cost of your rental boiler project.
Normal wear and tear is included as part of the rental. However, repairs resulting from improper operation, inadequate water treatment, negligence, or equipment damage are the responsibility of the customer and may be billed accordingly. Understanding these terms in advance can help avoid unexpected charges at the end of your temporary boiler rental.