What might be the cause of a boiler explosion?

by | Oct 3, 2013 | Heating & Air Conditioning

Boilers are a very reliable way to create heat for a building, there may be a need for boiler repair in Chicago to be called for periodically but things can go unnoticed in the interim periods between the maintenance and repair visits. A boiler can actually blow up and there are a couple of reasons behind it; a pressure relief valve which has failed, low water level and corrosion of the boiler plates. In most cases, when there is a boiler explosion the cause can be directly contributed to poor maintenance and poor operator training.

A boiler is a rather simple device regardless of the physical size; it is little more than a tank of water that is heated by one of a number of different fuels which results in the formation of steam. The steam is used for heat or the generation of electricity when a turbine is driven. Although the process is simple, there are dangers involved as the steam id under extremely high pressure and if the operation is not done properly there is the potential of catastrophic failure. Boiler owners know that when companies that are responsible for boiler repair Chicago area are called in regularly, the boiler can be kept operating safely for many years. The problems are very often out of the control of the repairmen, many problems are the direct result of short cuts in the maintenance that is done between visits.

As the steam in the boiler is under very high pressure it is absolutely imperative that the boilers pressure relief valve is working properly at all times. These valves are usually a spring operated device which is set to release when the pressure hits the maximum allowable pressure. When the valve comes into play, excess steam is released. If this valve is not well maintained it is very possible that the steam pressure will exceed the safe rating of the boiler and an explosion can occur.

Over the years, even if the boiler is fed with treated water, scale and corrosion can take place inside the tank. Corrosion can lead to the boiler tank walls becoming thinner in places which can lead to an explosion. An important part of maintenance and boiler repair in Chicago is the inspection of the tanks internals.

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