Scale is a deposit made of materials like calcium, silica and iron. It appears when these impurities precipitate out of the water, then concentrate and harden onto the boiler’s heat transfer surfaces.
Scale can pose various risks and issues for boilers, including:
- Reduced efficiency: Scale deposits are particularly good at insulating. They reduce how well heat transfers to the water, making your boiler less efficient.
- Fuel and energy wastage: When heat transfer efficiency is reduced, more heat exits the stack rather than converting into steam. That means the boiler must burn more fuel to produce the desired amount of steam. This high fuel usage creates more greenhouse gas emissions and raises fuel, operating and maintenance costs.
- Overheating: Scale can slough off the sides and interrupt water flow in the tubes, causing overheating or failure. Boiler deposits are natural insulators, making metal temperatures far higher in a dirty boiler than in a clean one. Higher metal temperatures increase the risk of tube overheating and failure.