WEIL-McLAIN Servicing Flooded Boilers User Guide
- June 17, 2024
- Weil-McLain
Table of Contents
Weil-McLain Technical Service Bulletin
Servicing Flooded Boilers
User Guide
Servicing Flooded Boilers
This bulletin describes how to service a Weil-McLain boiler that has been
either partially or fully submerged under freshwater or saltwater.
DANGER If any part of a boiler, burner or its controls has been sprayed with
or submerged under water, either partially or fully, DO NOT attempt to operate
the boiler until the boiler has been either replaced or completely repaired,
inspected, and you are sure that the boiler and all components are in good
condition and fully reliable. Otherwise, by operating this boiler, you will
cause a fire or explosion hazard, and an electrical shock hazard, leading to
serious injury, death, or substantial property damage.
Saltwater Damage
The exposure of boiler components to saltwater can have both immediate and
long- term effects. While the immediate effects of saltwater damage are
similar to those of freshwater (shorting out of electrical components, washing
out of critical lubricants, etc.), the salt and other contaminants left behind
can lead to longer term issues after the water is gone due to the conductive
and corrosive nature of the salt residue. Therefore, Weil-McLain equipment
contaminated with saltwater or polluted water will no longer be covered under
warranty and should be replaced.
Freshwater Damage
When a freshwater flooding condition has occurred with a boiler, you must
follow one of these steps:
For Condensing Boilers:
- If any electrical component or wiring came into contact with water, or was suspected to have come into contact with water, replace the boiler with a new Weil McLain boiler.
For Cast Iron Boilers:
- Replace the boiler which has experienced flooding conditions with a new Weil- McLain boiler, OR
- Thoroughly service the boiler which has experienced flooding conditions using the following guidelines:
a) Replace all controls, gas valves, and electrical wiring on the boiler.
Once an electrical control has been wet, it poses a fire and electrical shock
risk and must be replaced. Gas valves are no longer assured to provide a safe
shut-off to the gas, potentially causing gas leaks, fires, and explosions.
Even mechanical devices such as float low water cut-offs and safety relief
valves need to be replaced, as their components may become corroded, making
the device unreliable for future use.
b) Thoroughly inspect all bumer tubes, gas piping. manifolds, orifices,
and flue ways for signs of rust and/or sediment from the flood waters. The
rust and sediment can prevent proper operation of the boiler if it is not
cleaned out from the boiler.
c) For oil-fired boilers, replace all oil bumers. Oil burners are complex
systems consisting of solenoid valves, motors, electrodes, and pumps. If these
components have experienced flooding, then oil leaks, valve failures, and
electrical faults may occur, resulting in a severe fire hazard, potential
injury or death. In the case of large commercial burners, such as Gordon-Piatt
and Power Flame. it is more cost efficient to replace the entire burner rather
than attempting to replace all the controls and repair the mechanical
components.
d) Replace all insulation that has become water damaged. This includes
jacket insulation, base box insulation, and combustion chamber insulation and
refractories. After insulation has become water damaged due to flooding, it
may deteriorate, reducing its insulation value and causing a potential fire
hazard. Also, it can pose a health risk due to bacteria from the flood waters
remaining in the insulation.
e) Where possible, inspect seal rings for damage from petroleum products.
Flood waters are often contaminated with gasoline and other petroleum
products, which damage elastomer seals used on most Weil-McLain boilers.
f) Thoroughly inspect all venting for signs of corrosion. Replace any
venting that is rusting or corroded in order to prevent flue gases from
entering the building through the venting system.
NOTE: Even if only part of the boiler has been submerged in flood waters,
replace ALL controls, gas valves, and other components as noted above. There
is no easy way to know which components may be damaged: even if a control was
not submerged, water can get inside components because of splashing, wicking
action, and/or moisture in the air.
Water and sediment can easily enter controls, wiring, insulation and other
boiler components. Even if you cannot see obvious signs of penetration, water
and sediment may have entered a device and rendered it unsafe.
Replacing the boiler is usually the quickest and most economical option when
servicing a boiler that has experienced flooding. With so many areas of
concern in attempting to repair a boiler that has experienced flooding
conditions, replacing the boiler is generally the safest choice.
WATCH A PREVIOUSLY RECORDED VIDEO ABOUT FLOODED BOILERS
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