SB 4152 Web

Heating, Ventilation & Energy
Use shutdown periods to treat heating
systems, advises Sentinel Commercial
Water treatment specialist, Sentinel Commercial, is urging building maintenance engineers in the education sector to take
advantage of planned shutdowns over the holidays to review water quality in boiler plants and implement any necessary
chemical treatments, such as system cleaning and inhibitor dosing.
These procedures,
which can take
several days or
more to complete
depending on the
size and complexity
of a system, are
vital to the health
of boilers and
heating systems as
a whole; those
which do not receive
adequate water
treatment are likely to
suffer from excess energy
consumption, poor heat
transfer, premature repairs and
parts replacements, and breakdowns.
“Often, insufficient time is allocated for proper
water treatment, and this can leave
commercial heating systems vulnerable to a
range of very serious and costly problems,
including complete boiler failure and
unexpected downtime. Shutdown periods
represent the ideal opportunity for engineers
to undertake programmes of best practice
water treatment, thereby ensuring maximum
protection and energy efficiency of those
heating systems,” explained Chris Shelton,
Sales Director of Sentinel Commercial.
Best practice water treatment, which
comprises system cleaning, protection and
maintenance, is able to deliver lifetime
protection to boilers and heating system
components through the prevention of
corrosion – a phenomena which is otherwise
inevitable. Limescale build-up (for systems
located in hard water areas) can also be
avoided. The benefits of best practice water
treatment include optimal energy savings,
heat transfer, and system longevity and
performance, and meeting boiler warranty
terms and conditions. Best practice water
treatment is essential for both new and
existing heating systems.
“Allocating adequate time for best practice
water treatment is especially important when
replacing boilers – works which are often
planned during summer holidays - as the
cleaning process to remove corrosion sludge,
debris and other harmful foulants from older
commercial heating systems can sometimes
take a week or more. If it’s not undertaken
correctly and contaminants remain in the
circulating water, system performance,
efficiency and reliability will remain poor.
What’s more, the effectiveness of any
subsequently dosed inhibitor will be
compromised,” he said.
“On the other hand, the early application of a
slower acting cleaner will facilitate a faster
boiler replacement programme, ensuring that
the existing system is cleaner and thus easier
to work with.”
Water treatment shouldn’t just be limited to
boiler replacements, however. Mr. Shelton
advocates periodic assessment of system
water quality using kits such as Sentinel
SystemCheck to ensure adequate inhibitor
concentration and cleanliness of system
water. He says such checks, which are quick
to carry out, not only evaluate the health
and ongoing protection of a heating system
but also help to identify any necessary
maintenance and allow it to be undertaken
in a convenient, controlled manner.
“Planned preventative maintenance is
extremely important in the commercial and
education sectors, helping to limit
downtime and maintaining normal building
operation. By regularly checking system
water, engineers can catch potential
problems early and take the time to consult
water treatment specialists on the best
courses of action – which could be carried
out during planned shutdowns. Ultimately,
this approach helps to achieve lifetime
system protection and optimal energy
savings,” he concluded.
www.sentinelprotects.com
Often, insufficient time
is allocated for proper
water treatment, and this can
leave commercial heating
systems vulnerable to a range
of very serious and costly
problems, including
complete boiler failure and
unexpected downtime
8
Winter 2018 4152