Even though the boiler installed at a facility may be small, and even though it may use a fuel source such as natural gas or oil that’s relatively inexpensive, that’s no excuse for not following a few basic principles of system operation and maintenance:
1. Adequate insulation of the boiler itself, plus all ancillary valves and fittings
energy conservation projects
2. Adequate and continuous water treatment whenever the system is in operation
3. Periodic cleaning of the boiler tubes, especially if the water source has a high solids content and/or the fuel source or burners result in heavy fouling of the fire side
4. Proper adjustment of the fuel-to-air ratio, which includes the introduction of sufficient fresh (outside) combustion air to the boiler room
5. Correct adjustment of flue dampers, and assurance of proper operation when the boiler is actually in use
6. Gauges that are correctly installed and calibrated, and that are regularly consulted
7. Accurate record keeping, and regular maintenance of the boiler and its control mechanisms
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Excerpt from Energy Conservation Projects.