Why Do Boilers Break Down?
What Your Clients Should Know to Help Prevent Accidents and Reduce Loss
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It was mid-winter when a luxury auto dealership lost the heat to its show room and business offices. The boiler had overheated and cracked when scale accumulation blocked the water flow. With daily highs around 18 degrees F, three portable heaters were rented to reopen the business during repairs.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED
HSB paid $45,873 to replace the boiler and cover the extra expense under the equipment breakdown policy. The accident was caused by poor boiler maintenance that allowed the scale to build up over time. It's a common cause of disruptive boiler breakdowns and one that can be avoided with proper equipment care.
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NO HEAT, HOT WATER
In cooler weather, boilers and other heating equipment are critically important to any business, municipality or institution. Many companies depend on hot water throughout the year. Could your commercial clients cope with the sudden loss of heat and hot water that would result from an unexpected boiler breakdown?
OUT IN THE COLD
Stores could lose business as their customers go elsewhere. Offices might close and send employees home. Shops, restaurants and public buildings may shut down, or rent temporary equipment to stay open. A cold night is no time for apartment owners to be scrambling to find shelter for displaced tenants.
IT HAPPENS OVER TIME
Yet, most boiler problems don't occur suddenly. In many cases, there are signs of trouble weeks or months before a breakdown. It's important to know what can damage a boiler, so operators can check for red flags and owners can make sure their equipment breakdown coverage will protect their business.
WHAT CAUSES BOILER BREAKDOWNS?
The majority of boiler accidents are attributed to three general causes:
- Low water conditions, the leading cause of boiler breakdowns reported to HSB for many years.
- Operator error.
- Poor maintenance and/or corrosion.
NEGLECT, TAMPERING, INEXPERIENCE
Why are these problems so difficult to control? Many boiler operators neglect their equipment. Some don't understand how their boilers function, so they miss the warnings. Other operators tamper with boiler controls to get more heat output and increase the risk of a breakdown, or skip scheduled boiler maintenance to save money.
HSB OFFERS BROAD COVERAGE
HSB protects your customers with equipment breakdown insurance, loss prevention tools and outstanding service. We can pay for boiler breakdowns caused by operator error or a contractor's mistake. Online services include HSB Equipment Care, with information about maintenance and operation. HSB offers equipment webinars on boilers and other equipment.
WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST
Boilers often break down when they are working the hardest in extreme weather. Your customers need equipment breakdown coverage from HSB to help them get back in business as quickly as possible.
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