How to gauge boiler temperature?

The Gel

I'm likely missing someting obvious here.  I am looking to skim my boiler (I'll have to install a port and so on) and everything I've seen says that I should maintain a temperature of 180 degrees.  First, how is temperature gauged?  I'm not under the impression that everyone has some sort of temperature probe attached to their boiler.  Second, how are people throttling the burner?

Jamie Hall

The temperature

isn't that critical.  What you want to do is to avoid having it boil -- but keep it nice and hot.  Just below or at a simmer, in fact.  However, unlike a pot on a stove you can't see it -- so it is a little tricky to do.



Quite possibly the best bet is a candy thermometer (really!), and measure the temperature of the water coming out; if it's below about 180, switch the burner on and let it run until it gets up to 200 or so, maybe a little higher.  Then turn the burner off and let it cool down a bit.  And so on.  Until you get sick and tired of baby-sitting the thing.

The Gel

Thanks

Interesting.  So I guess you really have to keep an eye on it.