Stay prepared: Boiler and generator maintenance checklists for the upcoming seasons
{Sponsored} As the fall and winter seasons come into focus, two of the most vital pieces of equipment to maintain and prepare are your boilers and emergency generators. Is your equipment ready for a potentially rough winter?
Boiler Maintenance
When it comes to boiler maintenance, there are three main areas of concern greenhouse growers should be aware of when monitoring and inspecting your boilers — overheating, overpressure and water treatment.
There are several important steps you can take now to help prevent any of these three symptoms from becoming larger issues in the future, including:
- Testing boiler water on a regular basis
- Checking boiler pressure vessels and confirming overpressure protection measures are in place
- Testing the lift and relief valves to confirm uninhibited operation
- Checking overpressure devices for any signs of leakage
- Inspecting all water piping and all valves
- Documenting chemical usage
- Checking that instruments and controls are fully operational
Overall, keeping charts, log books or check lists of all maintenance items in your boiler room can not only keep your employees safe — it can help save your greenhouse money in the long run.
Generator Maintenance
Generators can help prevent a wide range of various, unwanted outcomes — from freezing to overheating. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), power outages have increased by more than 8% each year for the last 10 years, with the average outage lasting up to eight hours.
There are several essential things your greenhouse can be doing routinely to help be sure your generators are ready in the event of an outage. Some of these items include:
- Creating a generator maintenance schedule to help establish a routine (if nobody within the operation is qualified to service generators, outside contractors can be hired to perform routine maintenance items)
- Ensuring that while you have a decent supply of fuel (for non-electric generators and heaters); it should not be stored for longer than 12 months at a time
- Keeping fuel filters, coolant and oil checked and serviced
- Routinely firing up the generator from time to time, letting it run and inspecting operational items.
Want to know more about insurance policies to help protect your business from potential boiler or generator failure? Contact Hortica® today at 800-541-5082, or visit hortica.com.
Hortica® property and casualty coverages are underwritten, and loss control services are provided, by Florists’ Mutual Insurance Company, Florists’ Insurance Company, and Florists’ Insurance Service, Inc., Edwardsville, IL, members of the Sentry Insurance Group. For more information, visit hortica.com. Policies, coverages, benefits and discounts are not available in all states. See policy for complete coverage details.
This document is made available by Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively “SIAMCO”) with the understanding that SIAMCO is not engaged in the practice of law, nor is it rendering legal advice. The information contained in this document is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity, nor the best practices applicable to any particular individual or entity. Legal obligations may vary by state and locality, and best practices are unique to specific items and situations. No one should act on the information contained in this document without advice from a local professional with relevant expertise.
77-152 14003502 10/29/19
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