Chemical Treatment

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.

Sludge and corrosion buildup of the boiler and the boiler tubes:

boiler-corrosion-pitting

Chemical Treatment Service

Maintenance:

We will provide seasonal water treatments during the heating season in which onsite chemical testing (such as PH, Chloride, Sodium Nitrite levels, and Conductivity), chemical administration, and corrosion coupon study will be performed. We will leave a detailed water analysis report at the building after each visit. In addition, we will conduct a boil out as needed in which we inject chemical detergents into the boiler. During the boil out we will chemically clean and flush the system, refill the boiler with chemical inhibitors, and test for proper water analysis and treatment. If a boil out is required, the building staff will need to drain out and refill the boiler(s) two (2) days after the cleaning compound is added to the boiler(s).

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