Top dangers inside a steam boiler room, this Fridays video

RayWohlfarth

In this weeks video, I will be discussing the top ten dangers inside a steam boiler room in my opinion. Hope you enjoy it.

Ray

ChrisJ

Rodent droppings and tetanus?

guzzinerd

I put my exercise equipment in the boiler room.. warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Looking forward to the dangers

ethicalpaul

#1: Customers

RayWohlfarth

@ChrisJ Oh yes, so gross

@guzzinerd just like hot yoga

@ethicalpaul So true

Here is the link to this weeks video. Hope you enjoy it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYgfg-SnLRc

ethicalpaul

thanks, Ray!
I’m terms of uninsulated piping, if it is a serious problem due to extra condensate, then how can any boiler be started from a cold condition?

Regarding it being a problem on the main due to too much condensate, isn’t the main always carrying all the condensate regardless?

RayWohlfarth

@ethicalpaul I believe its because the pipes heat quickly and while there is extra condensate, the system can handle it.

ethicalpaul

Thanks! It can handle it regardless of insulation, right?

RayWohlfarth

To quote the honorable @DanHolohan it depends. I always prefer steam pipes to be insulated

ethicalpaul

I prefer it too if my basement is too warm, but I think it’s good to know why we do things and what things will solve which problems!

Lance

Ray, You are doing a great job. My closest incident involving a steam boiler primed for explosion came when on a damp drizzle cold day I was asked by a church to close down a building in Hagerstown. I met the building manager there to winterize and shut down the heat and water systems. It was a classic 100 year old stone church with the red doors. As I waited I walked around the building, checking for pipes, gas meter and other things that I may have to deal with. When we went into the basement, at the far rear corner was the boiler room. I was wearing gloves, and when I touched the door knob, I felt it very warm. My fire training kicked in, I did not want to have a backdraft incident. The boiler was running and I looked down at the threshold at the door gap. Seeing no threat I opened the door to see the entire front of the boiler glowing red. I glanced at the sight gauge. Empty. I saw on the flue pipe sap from 100 year old timbers dripping, thermostat wires melted on the flue pipe bypassing safeties. I did an immediate about face, saw the power to the gas burner and threw the switch as I exited. I order my client to exit with me immediately and went outside to the gas meter and valved it off and called 911. Fire dept. arrived. The investigated the glowing boiler and also exited. Outside I asked why they were leaving, the danger of fire was still there as well as explosion. They said I did what they would have and if I need again to call. I waited another hour before the glowing went away. In all my 50 years I never thought I would be that close to a bomb, but I was glad to know the danger. Church is still there. It was a hand feed boiler that was abandoned 25 days til we arrived.

RayWohlfarth

@Lance OMG that's crazy scary Thanks

Lance

Yeah it was considering we could have made two widows that morning. Lots of people have no clue how often and how dangerous the mechanical trades can be. And many of us old school guys can easily get complacent and careless for any number of reasons. My brother as a young apprentice was being electrocuted with an iron bar while prying the 6" water service pipe apart for a shopping center. In the 60's pipes where the main electrical ground. His Master knocked him off and saved his life. While working in attic on the A/C I slipped off a ladder and broke my Humerus. Its been 6 months and I'm still healing. The places we go, the hidden things we don't see are all just a heartbeat away. I had an employee slice his arm to the bone when a porcelain urinal cracked as he lifted it. I had an installer get crushed by a boiler coming down the steps when the steps failed. The ER is full of stories as my ER Nurse wife manager has told me. She identifies their trade by the way they bandage their cuts. Even now I still get paper cuts. 😜 Stay safe, cause pain and healing hurts!