RAISE A GLASS TO THE GLASS
To run a boiler properly, you have to maintain a proper water level. But you can’t just open up a hatch and take a peek inside. Fortunately, there’s a very simple and effective way to see how your water level is doing: the sight glass. They’ve been a part of nearly every commercial boiler since day one, letting operators monitor the water level in their boilers to preserve efficiency, longevity, and safety.
TOTALLY TUBULAR
A sight glass is simply a length of glass tubing that is connected to a pipe coming out of the boiler. When installed correctly, the level of water in the sight glass will match the water level in the boiler. That’s because gravity and the pressure of our atmosphere act equally on the water whether it’s in the sight glass or the boiler’s water tank, something called Pascal’s Principle.
KEEP IT LEVEL
Maintaining a proper water level is crucial for many reasons. If your water level is too low, the fire tubes inside will become exposed. Without water around them to cool them, the metal of the tubes can overheat, warp, and crack, causing leaks and ruptures. If the water level is too high, the boiler won’t produce enough pure, usable steam to provide heat and work, reducing performance and increasing fuel use as the system tries to compensate with more flame.
KEEP IT CLEAR
The sight glass also serves the crucial function of letting operators monitor the condition of the water as well as its level. Since the water in the sight glass is the same water that’s in the boiler, a cloudy sight glass means there are contaminants in the boiler that need to be addressed. Foam in the sight glass is also a well-known indicator of water contamination, as well. But it’s not just the water inside that should be kept clear. The outside of the sight glass needs to be cleaned regularly to make sure the water level and level markings are clearly visible.
THE SHAPE OF WATER
Boiler sight glasses come in two main shapes, cylindrical and flat. Cylindrical sight glass is cut from a glass tube, usually at the site of the boiler to guarantee a perfect fit. Flat sight glass, on the other hand, is long and rectangular, which makes it harder to cut on-site. It is, therefore, usually ordered to length as needed.
WHAT WE CHECK FOR
When WARE inspects a sight glass, we’re looking for anything that could hinder accuracy or integrity. Specifically, our inspectors check the clarity of the glass, and check the ends for cracks that could develop into leaks. WARE inspectors will also check the install date of the glass, because best practices dictate that tubular glass should be replaced annually just to be safe. Flat glass doesn’t have to be replaced annually, but it must be replaced once it becomes difficult to read or can no longer be cleaned properly.
Sight glass is one of the most-viewed categories on WARE’s BoilerWAREhouse online store. We’re also experts in the installation, inspection, and replacement of boiler sight glass. If you need yours inspected by a pro, we’re here to help.