Poor boiler water treatment is the primary cause of poor boiler performance, according to Chris Paterson, Managing Director of specialist operations and maintenance service provider to the steam and boiler sector, Associated Energy Services (AES).
Not all water is created equal and there is a lot more to water treatment than ensuring that it appears clean, he says. Yet, this is where many companies are tempted to cut costs.
However, because correctly treated boiler water is integral to preventative maintenance and essential to ensuring boiler safety – as well as operational and energy efficiency – this is one of the first and most critical issues that AES addresses when taking over the operations and maintenance of a client’s boilers and energy plant.
A drop in water standards
Poor infrastructure has reduced municipal water quality – while the increased cost of this water source has persuaded many companies to switch to alternative streams such as borehole water and stored rainwater – creating a whole new set of challenges, says AES Operations Director Ray Lund.
