Boiler Cost? - On & Off

[imakewort]

recently took over a part time brewing gig that only requires brewing 1-2 times a month (7 bbl.).

in the past managment said that that usually just leave the boiler on even if there was no activity in the brewery. they have had problems re-lighting the pilot when they've turned it off in the past.

my question is how much energy is the boiler wasting if its on all the time (eventhough water if not being heated in the brewery)?

is it better to turn it on and off (as long as i fix this "hard to re-light problem)?

p.s. its located in an enclosed room outside the building. they also said someone told them to keep it on especially in the winter.

[gitchegumee]

You should contact a boiler expert to have him look over the boiler & fix your problem. Ask him to suggest a way to freeze-protect your system in winter. If you want to save fuel costs, then you will always want to shut off your boiler--even if it isn't powering your brewery. Keeping a full head of steam is costly. Good luck.

[troybinso]

I am new to dealing with boilers, and I don't think mine runs quite the way it should, but... I would never leave that thing on all the time. It gets incredibly hot in the room when the boiler is running, and there are hot pipes full of steam criss-crossing around the room. There are like 4 or 5 gas powered burners underneath my boiler to keep the steam going, and they use a lot of gas, I am sure.

Maybe we are talking about different kinds of boilers, but that just seems crazy to me.

[Gregg]

Even minor problems like re-lighting suggest your boiler may not be in a good state. Check maint. records and unless you are positive that there is a regular maintenance schedule, get a boilerman in now and reguilarly. If your managment baulks at cost/time, show them some pictures of steam bombs.

Gregg