Your Guide to Boiler Blowdown

06 Oct Your Guide to Boiler Blowdown

If you have a boiler, you need to take care of it. You must follow the proper procedures to remove sludge from your boiler if you want it to work as efficiently as possible. If you do not perform a boiler blowdown periodically, you could increase your chances of dealing with a major repair. Furthermore, a lack of a boiler blowdown could increase your utility bills because your boiler will not operate as efficiently as it should. There are several steps you need to follow if you want to get the most out of your boiler blowdown. Take a look at our suggestions below, and do not hesitate to reach out to a professional who can help you.

What Does a Boiler Blowdown Do?

You need to blow down your boiler to control the amount of solids in the water inside the boiler. If you have too much sludge inside the boiler, you may insulate the heating surfaces inside the tank. Then, the metal could start to overheat, causing your boiler to fail. Furthermore, if you have a high concentration of solids in the water in the boiler, it could cause a water hammer. This might damage the pipes and equipment, leading to an expensive repair bill.

During a boil or blow down, you will partially drain the boiler to get rid of the sludge from the inside. Then, you will maintain a specific concentration of solid to maximize the performance of the boiler. If you do this process properly, you can increase the boiler’s efficiency, extending its lifespan and reducing your utility bills.

Always Check the Components

The exact steps you will follow will vary depending on the type of boiler you have. That is why you always need to look at your boiler’s components first. You need to take a look at the blowdown piping, making sure that it is the same size as the blowdown tapping on your boiler. You also need to take a look at the blowdown valves to ensure the sizes match. You also need to count the boiler valves to ensure you have the necessary equipment.

Follow a Step by Step Procedure for Your Boiler Blowdown

Next, you need to follow a step-by-step procedure. The steps you need to follow include:

• Start by opening all of the quick-opening valves.
• Then, open the slow opening valve.
• Blow down the boiler for the length of time in the manual. Take a look at the water level in the gauge glass. Some boilers might require several blowdown cycles to maintain the appropriate water level.
• Close the slow opening valve next.
• Then, close all of the quick-opening valves. 
• After this, open the slope and involved once again. The goal is to drain the line between the quick and slow opening valves.
• Finally, close the slow-opening valve one last time. Double-check to make sure the shut-off is tight once the valve has cooled off.

You can get the most out of your boiler if you perform this procedure regularly.

Trust McKenna Boiler To Help You With All Commercial Boiler Maintenance Needs

You must make sure that you protect your boiler, and that means performing a boiler blowdown from time to time. We are McKenna Boiler, and we are always available to answer any questions or concerns you might have about your boiler. Furthermore, if you need a new boiler, it would be our pleasure to help you. Reach out to us with any questions you might have, and contact us today to speak to our team.