Deaerator Service and Troubleshooting in California
Service, repair, and troubleshooting on deaerators and feedwater systems for plants across California, with code repairs under the National Board R certificate held by McKenna Boiler Works, Inc.
Code-built boilers and vessels
Code repairs and alterations
Factory-authorized Tech Center
Factory-authorized Burner Tech Center
Fifth generation, family-owned
QUICK ANSWER
McKenna Boiler Works, Inc. provides deaerator service and troubleshooting for industrial plants across California. Its crews trace high dissolved oxygen, worn spray valves and trays, control faults, and tank weld cracks. Code repairs to the tank run under McKenna’s National Board R certificate. McKenna also services deaerators from many manufacturers and builds feedwater tanks and systems in its own ASME code shop. Call (323) 987-1816 or email info@mckennaboiler.com to describe the symptom.
How a deaerator works
A deaerator keeps oxygen out of the boiler.
A deaerator heats feedwater to saturation temperature and scrubs out dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide with steam. At 5 psig, saturation is 227°F, and a healthy unit holds oxygen at or below 7 parts per billion.
When it drifts, oxygen pits the economizer, boiler tubes, and condensate piping. McKenna finds the cause, repairs it, and tells you plainly when replacement is the better buy.
Capabilities
What McKenna does on a deaerator.
- Oxygen troubleshooting: test readings, find the cause, and restore the outlet to design
- Spray valves and trays: inspect, repair, and replace worn internals
- Controls and valves: pressure control, relief, level, and makeup valve service
- Tank inspection: internal and external, with a written report. Weld and thickness testing can be added by proposal
- Code repairs: tank repairs and alterations under the National Board R certificate
- Feed pumps and piping: check valves, suction, and feedwater lines
- Engineering studies: repair, replace, or move to a feedwater tank, with numbers for each
What you see and what we check
High dissolved oxygen
Worn spray valves, fouled trays, a blocked vent, or water below saturation temperature. We test oxygen and open the unit.
Low outlet temperature
Steam supply or pressure control valve faults, too much cold makeup, or condensate return problems.
Relief valve lifting
A hunting pressure control valve, steam supply surges, or a worn relief valve. We check set pressure.
Banging or water hammer
Broken spray valves or trays, or steam meeting cold water. We inspect the internals through the manway.
Feed pump cavitation
Low tank level, water too hot for the suction head, or fouled strainers.
Level swings or overflow
A failed level control, a stuck makeup valve or float, or overflow piping problems.
Pitting downstream
Oxygen carryover over time. We check the deaerator first, then tube condition, and share what we find with your water treatment company.
How a job runs
How it works.
01
Describe the symptom
Call or use the request form. Give us the symptom, the nameplate data, and the boiler load. Nameplate photos help.
02
Inspection
A McKenna technician checks pressure and temperature, tests dissolved oxygen, and opens the unit when readings point to the internals.
03
Written scope
You get a written scope and quote. Code repairs list the R stamp work and the inspector hold points.
04
Repair and test
McKenna makes the repair, restores the controls, and checks temperature, pressure, and level against set points before handing over the paperwork.
Project photos
Why McKenna