The heat is gone

Chad Fletcher, director of aftermarket parts and sales at Hurst Boiler, says that a boiler, like a car, will only last as long as its user takes proper care of it. Proper tuning can greatly extend your boiler's life and save you fuel and money.

 

But optimizing your boiler life starts before purchase, Fletcher says.

 

“A new project build should always look at the best equipment they can afford. Getting better, more efficient units shortens return on investment (ROI),” he says.

 

Growers that have inefficient equipment should evaluate their ROI and compare it with the efficiency of new equipment. Current market trends are towards higher optioned burners, economizers and internal improvements for thermal transfer inside the boiler.

 

“Simply put, customers should start looking into new units when their investment far outweighs their output,” he says. “Boilers over 10 years old can be, on average, around 70 to 75 percent efficient, with new units ranking in the 82 to 84 percent range.”

 

He adds that one large boiler could save tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel savings, via the improved efficiency of new equipment.