As temperatures drop, your facility’s heating system shifts into high gear. Boilers and closed loops that have been idle or running at low capacity suddenly become mission-critical. But before you fire up your system for the season, there are three water treatment checks you can’t afford to skip.
Overlooking these steps could lead to corrosion, scale buildup, or even costly equipment failures — all of which are preventable with a little proactive maintenance.
Here’s what to review before boiler season starts.
1. Boiler Blowdown and Conductivity Probe Calibration
Over time, dissolved solids build up in boiler water, reducing efficiency and increasing the risk of scale. That’s why blowdown procedures are critical — they help maintain the right water quality balance.
But there’s one key component many facilities overlook: the conductivity probe. This sensor monitors the concentration of dissolved solids and triggers blowdown automatically. If it’s not properly calibrated, your system could either blow down too often (wasting water and energy) or not enough (leading to scale formation).
Pro tip: Verify that your conductivity probe is clean, responsive, and accurately reading conductivity levels before the heating season begins
2. Chemical Feed System Verification
Your chemical feed systems play a vital role in protecting your equipment — but as temperatures drop, it’s easy to overlook a few small yet critical checks.
Before the season starts, verify that your feed pumps are properly primed and that you have enough chemical inventory to last through increased system demand. Even minor issues, like leaks at the pump head, suction, or discharge fittings, can affect chemical feed performance over time.
While most facility teams don’t calibrate feed systems themselves, you can — and should — confirm that chemical dosage levels in your system water are within the correct range. These small checks help ensure that your treatment program continues to deliver full protection.
3. Corrosion Inhibitor Testing
Closed loop systems rely on corrosion inhibitors to protect metal surfaces from rust and degradation. Over time, these inhibitors get consumed as they neutralize corrosive elements in the water — meaning the concentration you started with may not be what’s protecting your system now.
- Test your inhibitor levels to ensure they’re within specification.
- Test your inhibitor levels to ensure they’re within specification.
Neglecting corrosion protection is one of the fastest ways to shorten your system’s lifespan, especially during the heating season when metal surfaces face added stress.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
Winter puts extra stress on your heating and closed loop systems — so take time now to make sure your water treatment program is ready.
Hydrotrue offers free site assessments to help facility managers like you identify risks and ensure your systems are properly protected.