No machine, no matter how useful or important, and no matter how well built or maintained, is fully immune to failure. In the video below, one of our expert technicians visited a customer of ours to diagnose a problem with their Cleaver-Brooks boiler and find the source of their boiler room’s leaks.
What causes boiler leaks?
Most boiler leakages are the result of broken seals or valves, but they can also be caused due to corrosion, or the pressure may be too high or too low. An incorrectly installed seal on the pump or joints loosening through natural wear and tear can also cause leaks. A leak may not be immediately dangerous on its own, but it could lead to more dangerous issues if left unchecked.
Diagnosing heating system problems
In the examination of the customer’s boiler room, our service technician found that two of the previously welded tubes in the client’s boiler were leaking. To stop the leak and get this boiler back up and running at 100%, he will have to pull the affected tubes, plug them at both ends, and replace the gaskets. To make sure he has found all the leaks, our technician will employ a hydrostatic pressure test on all of the tubes.
What is a hydrostatic pressure test?
Hydrostatic testing is one of the primary tools in our service technicians’ toolbox for detecting leaks in boilers, fuel tanks, plumbing and piping systems, as well as any other kind of pressure vessel. Conducting a pressure test on a pressure vessel involves filling the vessel with water, which may be dyed to aid in detecting leaks, and pressurizing the vessel. Water will begin to leak through any means available. In some cases, adding a dye to the water makes it easy to see where the leaks are.
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Hydrostatic tests are extremely important tools for manufacturing and repair service personnel. Manufacturers use hydrostatic testing as a quality assurance tool, and it’s best to have regular revalidation tests performed so that you can evaluate your boiler’s health and ensure that your system will continue to perform well over its operational lifetime.
To perform a hydrostatic test on the boiler tubes in the above video, we will have to plug them, fill them with water, and visually inspect them for signs of leakage. Due to the high pressures involved, this test requires specialized equipment and should only be performed by professionals with the proper training. Once the leaks have been identified and plugged, and the pipes replaced if needed, our client’s boiler will be up and running again, leak-free.
While some small leaks can be found and fixed on your own, sometimes they are symptoms of a larger problem with your boiler that you won’t have the tools or experience to fix, so you should always consult with a professional to determine the root cause before deciding on a course of action. Trying to fix a boiler leak or its root cause without the proper tools or experience can lead to further damage to the boiler or even bodily harm.
Learn more about our commercial boiler services
At Chiller Systems Service, we put the right people, equipment, and service on your case to get the job done right. We’ve been installing and servicing commercial boiler and HVAC systems in the Denver area since 1997, and our responsive and reliable services are focused on keeping our customers up and running with as little disruption of their own services as possible.
If you’ve noticed a leak in your boiler, contact us today and experience our dedication to complete customer satisfaction: