Boiler Water Chemistry
Water/Steam is the medium used to transfer heat from the boiler to the building. Hence water quality is a key factor in maintaining efficient and reliable boiler operation. One of the most common causes of overheating and failure of boiler tubes is the formation and buildup of hard scale on the tubes surfaces. High levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in the water can become caught in the boiler tank and tubes. When untreated boiler water is heated, calcium and magnesium will precipitate from the solution to form hard scale on the tube surfaces. Did you know?! … That just a 1/8 inch thick of scale buildup can cause an efficiency loss of 20-25%!
Another component of water and major cause of corrosion is oxygen. When the untreated water is heated the oxygen becomes highly corrosive and starts to attack the boiler’s metal which will begin to produce pitting. Pitting is a severe and destructive form of corrosion. Pitting is very difficult to detect early on and since it is a localized corrosion results in pin hole leaks. Without proper chemical treatment, efficiency of the boiler can decrease causing higher fuel costs, cause overheating of the boiler, and possibly lead to failure of the boiler.
Untreated water is full of minerals, gases and particulates that can lower efficiency and cause critical damage to the health of both the boilers, but the entire heating system.