There are many different fittings and accessories for a boiler system
. Most of these fittings and accessories are actually necessary to make the unit do what it is designed to do in your home. One of the main devices that falls into this category is the safety valve that prevents a possible explosion of the device. The safety valve can be used to relieve pressure when the pressure gets too high and threatens to cause the unit to explode.
Another common accessory for a boiler that has almost become a mandatory accessory is the water level indicator. You may be more familiar with these items being called the sight glass or the water gauge. They allow you to see exactly how much fluid is in the vessel.
Bottom blow down valves are placed on a boiler to allow for the removal of solid particles that can condense and position themselves on the bottom of the unit. The valve is placed directly on the bottom of the vessel so that it can be opened periodically and cleans the particles from the interior of the unit.
Pressure gauges are very important on these systems. Pressure can cause the system to explode in the event that there is too much inside the vessel, and not enough pressure can result in the equipment performing poorly and causing other complications with the device. If the system has pressure gauges on them and the owners pay attention to these gauges they can see the potential for a bad problem and rectify it before something major is damaged. These pressure gauges should be mandatory on all units of this type.
A fusible plug is something that can prevent severe damages when the temperature of the vessel becomes too great. The pressure valve allows you to release some of the pressure that might cause the device to explode and the fusible plug allows the input of water quickly to cool the device down so that it does not blow do to a high temperature. These items are generally made of bronze, and brass, and sometimes of gunmetal.
A surface blow down line can be used for removing and controlling foam in the device. Lightweight and non-condensable substances can float to the top of the vessel and start to create problems with the way the unit works. These lines allow for this material to be removed from the interior of the device and will thus prolong the life of the appliance.
There is an accessory that is known as a low water cutoff that automatically will shut the burner off if the level of water inside the vessel drops to a dangerous level. If you were to burn one of these devices without water in them it can cause the vessel to have a rupture. A rupture in one of these units is catastrophic to the device. This is known as a dry fire and is easily prevented with the low water cut off installation.
These systems have become so familiar to us that we sometimes forget that they are dangerous if not properly taken care of.
There are many fittings and accessories for a boiler that should be considered necessities. Most accessories for a boiler pertain to the safety of the equipment.