As winter approaches, boiler operators start dusting off secondary boilers and readying alternate fuel sources in preparation for the colder months. The last thing you want is an unexpected boiler failure on a frigid day, so now is the perfect time to make sure your equipment is up to the task.
At Frank I. Rounds Company, our experienced service team can help take the stress out of your boiler room preparations. We perform comprehensive safety checks and professional combustion tuning to ensure your boiler is operating safely and at peak efficiency all winter long.
Pre-Winter Boiler Maintenance Checklist
- Maintain a detailed boiler log: Keep a log of daily operating conditions to spot trends and address minor issues before they become serious problems.
- Perform a visual inspection: Walk around the boiler and look for any obvious issues such as cracks, leaks, or other signs of damage. Catching these early can prevent larger failures.
- Test safety controls and valves: Check all safety controls and valves to make sure they function properly. This includes inspecting and cleaning critical devices like the low-water cutoff to prevent dangerous low-water conditions.
- Verify gauges are accurate: Inspect all pressure and temperature gauges for proper operation, and replace any that are not reading correctly or are no longer reliable.
- Schedule a burner tune-up: Have a qualified service technician clean the burner and perform a full tune-up to maximize combustion efficiency. A properly tuned burner ensures the boiler uses fuel efficiently and operates reliably.
- Clean the fireside: Remove all soot and deposits from the boiler’s fireside surfaces. Buildup on these heat transfer surfaces reduces fuel efficiency and can lead to overheating or damage.
- Lubricate fans and pumps: Ensure all blower fans and pump motors are properly lubricated and in good working order. Well-maintained fans and pumps help the boiler run smoothly and efficiently.
- Check steam traps for leaks: Once the system is up and running, inspect all steam traps to ensure they are functioning correctly. Replace any failed traps – a leaky steam trap wastes energy and can reduce overall system performance.
- Increase blowdown after startup: When a boiler is first brought back online after downtime, condensate iron levels often spike due to corrosion in the return piping. Perform extra boiler blowdown cycles during the initial startup period to flush out these impurities and prevent sediment deposits on the boiler tubes.
By following these steps, you’ll ensure your boiler system runs safely, reliably, and efficiently throughout the winter season. If you need assistance or prefer an expert to handle the work, contact our service department to schedule a professional boiler tuning or inspection before the cold sets in.
As another New England winter approaches, commercial and industrial facilities in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island know the importance of a reliable boiler plant. For over 85 years, Frank I. Rounds Company, headquartered in Randolph, MA, has helped businesses, schools, and hospitals prepare their boiler rooms. Taking a proactive approach before the first cold snap prevents costly downtime and keeps your facility safe and efficient when temperatures drop.
Schedule a Comprehensive Boiler Inspection
Winter in the Northeast doesn’t leave room for error. Scheduling a professional inspection now ensures your equipment is ready for peak demand. Our technicians review combustion efficiency, burner performance, pressure vessels, and safety devices—so whether you’re in Boston, Worcester, or Providence, you’ll be prepared for the first frost.
Perform Preventive Maintenance
Routine maintenance is your best defense against mid-season breakdowns. Recommended tasks include:
- Cleaning waterside and fireside surfaces.
- Inspecting and testing safety valves, pressure controls, and low-water cutoffs.
- Checking gaskets, refractory, and insulation.
- Lubricating pumps, motors, and other moving parts.
- Calibrating instrumentation and controls.
Our New England-based service team has the parts and expertise to keep your boiler room running without disruption.
Review Water Treatment Practices
Water conditions can be tough on boilers. Testing your feedwater and condensate systems before heating season helps control corrosion, scale, and carryover. Frank I. Rounds offers tailored water treatment programs to extend equipment life and reduce energy use. Simply reach out for a professional third-party evaluation today.
Assess Fuel and Combustion Systems
Fuel costs make efficiency critical. Seasonal combustion analysis and burner tuning can save on natural gas or oil bills while keeping your system compliant with local emissions standards.
Test Emergency and Backup Systems
Hospitals, universities, and manufacturing plants across the region rely on steam and hot water. If something does break, what is the backup system in place? We confirm auxiliary equipment—deaerators, economizers, blowdown systems—are ready. If you need rental boilers for redundancy, we can deliver and set up quickly anywhere in New England.
Train or Hire Boiler Operators and Staff
Boiler equipment requires skilled operators. Our training programs—offered either at our facility or yours—prepare your maintenance staff to operate and maintain systems safely, helping to avoid costly downtime.
Need additional support? Frank I. Rounds specializes in providing licensed boiler operators and mechanical plant personnel tailored to your facility’s size, complexity, and operational schedule.
Plan for Long-Term Upgrades
If your inspections reveal outdated components and declining efficiency, it may be time to plan for burner or control upgrades. From high-efficiency firetube and watertube boilers to electric and hybrid systems, Frank I. Rounds can help your facility meet both energy and decarbonization goals, and if your equipment upgrades result in an offline boiler situation, we have you covered with a full line of boiler rental equipment.
The heating season in New England puts heavy demands on boiler systems. With proactive inspection, maintenance, training, and rental support, Frank I. Rounds Company will ensure your facility is ready for whatever winter brings. Contact our Randolph, MA team today to schedule your heating season inspection.
