The boiler is a vital part of some industries that use it for various heating processes and applications. Whether it is used for water heating, sanitation, or cooking, you should never neglect the maintenance of your boiler. To avoid disruption in your business operation and unnecessary repair costs, you need to have a contingency plan for your boiler in case of a breakdown.
In this article, we’ll discuss what warning signs to look for in a boiler and why you shouldn’t allow a boiler breakdown. Keep on reading to learn three practical steps that you should follow to avoid a boiler breakdown at all costs!
The impact of a boiler breakdown
If you’re running a boiler plant in your company, you wouldn’t want to deal with a boiler breakdown. It is all the more disconcerting if it’s a sudden breakdown and you haven’t had adequate preparations much such a situation. That’s why it’s important to be wary of the warning signs of a possible boiler breakdown. Below are several warning signs to look out for:
- A yellow flame instead of blue
- Carbon or soot deposits around the boiler
- Excess condensation or water being produced
- Strange odours
- Strange sounds
- Poor or fluctuating performance
Now that you know several of the warning signs, you may be wondering why you should check your boiler regularly and ensure that it won’t have a breakdown. Apart from the inconvenience of having no heat or hot water, a boiler breakdown can impact your business by causing the following outcomes:
- Unnecessary costs
- Consequences to health
- Business downtime that cannot be recouped
- Inability to provide customer service
- Dissatisfied staff
- Cold temperature
Practical steps to avoid a boiler breakdown
As with any case, prevention is better than cure. This, too, applies in the case of a boiler breakdown. Below are three practical steps you can take to avoid a breakdown.
1. Establish a contingency plan.
Proper orientation is necessary to ensure that everybody should be aware of the contingency plan. In case of a boiler breakdown, your employees should know what steps to follow. Include a log of the necessary technical details and data that employees need to fill out. Outline the immediate steps required to do and the list of people to contact, from staff to suppliers down to customers. In case of a breakdown, make sure to have a contact of reputable suppliers beforehand for either a temporary or replacement boiler.
2. Keep up with your Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM).
The goal of this step is to ensure that your boiler system is in good working shape and condition. The PPM should include two essential aspects: (1) detecting any potential issues before they become a problem, and (2) having thorough maintenance performed regularly. Have a qualified technician check the carbon monoxide levels and the pressure of the system. They also need to check if there are no gas or water leaks, and that no parts and components are working inefficiently.
3. Assess your boiler plant’s history for informed actions to take.
Performing this step will give you valuable insights about the performance, expected demands, and potential issues that can possibly arise for your boiler system. Make sure to check for overall trends in performance and efficiency, and address any potential problems before they escalate.
A boiler is part and parcel of many industries. Having a contingency plan set in place for a possible boiler breakdown will not only lower unexpected costs but will also ensure a smooth running of your business operation. As a result, you will have no stress dealing with a boiler failure, no business downtime, and no unexpected stressful situations.
If you have any doubts about your boiler, particularly about its safety, don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified engineer. If there is a boiler breakdown, avoid losing valuable business downtime by hiring a temporary or emergency boiler to ensure continued business.
Should your boiler breakdown, get in touch with our boiler rental services in London to rent a boiler.