How Correctly Measuring The Water Level In A Boiler With A Glass Tube Prevents Disaster
The safety of your boiler service customers is paramount. With this in mind - and due to how high the temperatures inside of a boiler can get - it’s critical that boilermakers utilize specific safety mechanisms such as a level gauge, to monitor the interior water level.
Why Are The Water Levels In A Boiler So Important?
In order to produce the right amount of steam to efficiently heat an entire building, a boiler must maintain an appropriate water level. Keeping the water at a specific level allows the boiler to control the amount and velocity of the steam so that the entire contraption doesn’t combust.
If the water level gets too high or too low, disaster follows - unless the boiler is shut down in a timely manner. That’s why it’s important to have a boiler gauge glass, among other safety measures. This way, if the water level is off, the boilermaker can quickly take the necessary steps to correct it.
So what happens if the water level gets too high or too low? When it’s too high, the water may spill out and cause damage to the machine. If it’s too low, however, the heating tubes that heat up the boiler get too hot because they are no longer getting cooled down by the water. In this situation, it is highly possible that a rupture could occur, which is a safety hazard for anyone working near the boiler.
How Does A Level Gauge Boiler Glass Tube Work?
A level gauge glass is a glass tube through which a boilermaker can observe the water levels in the boiler. It’s important to have a separate tube to look through rather than looking directly into the boiler. The reason is that the surface of the water is bubbling with heat, so it doesn’t appear uniformly level from the top down or the side.
That’s where the glass tube comes in. When a level gauge glass is affixed to the side of the boiler, it fills up with water but is not directly heated. This gives the observer an accurate picture of the true water level inside the boiler.
Why Is It Important To Get Just The Right Glass Tube For Your Gauge?
Just as it’s important to have a boiler gauge glass tube for your customer's boiler, it’s also essential that you choose the right glass for your gauge. Because, believe it or not, not all glass is created equal.
At Zight, we believe our North American glass tubes’ superior quality speaks for itself. For example, our glass comes with a higher safety factor than the German-manufactured kind that is often used for boiler gauges. A higher safety factor means that our glass breaks less easily under the same amount of pressure as our overseas competitors.
Another popular choice for level gauges is glass manufactured in Asian factories. But this kind is a cheap option, not a quality choice. It cracks easily, which is not ideal for boilers, and it reflects badly on American boiler manufacturers.
Conclusion: Zight Glass Is The Safest Material For Your Boiler Gauge
We take safety and durability extremely seriously at Zight. The proof is in the power of our sight glasses for boilers, which will not break easily under pressure and will last many years without the need for a replacement. Our sturdy glass tubes allow you to keep a watchful eye on a boiler’s water level and make sure your service customers stay safe.