Take Note! How Did Your Boiler Startup Go?
October 21, 2025
Cooler temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere mean facility managers and water treatment service providers are shutting down comfort cooling systems and turning up the boiler heat. Certified Water Technologist Scott Bryan of Cortec® Corporation says this is the perfect time to evaluate the success of your boiler layup. Here’s what to look for and what to do about it!
Warning Signs of Improper Boiler Layup
Three major clues show something went wrong with your boiler’s layup procedure:
• High iron levels/undissolved solids in boiler or condensate water
• Iron scaling
• Boiler tube leaks
These issues lead to short-term maintenance headaches and weaken the system’s integrity over time. Yet, while negative effects like clogging, water “poisoning,” or leaky systems can’t be undone, the good news is that you don’t have to repeat the problems next time around.
Tips for Better Boiler Layup Next Year
The most important key to a better boiler layup next year is the use of Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors. These chemistries protect the entire internal boiler space, below and above the water level, and can be used for dry or wet layup.
For dry layup, the specific product often depends on boiler size:
• Small Boilers: Fog with Boiler Gecko™, an air-powered spray can that contains enough Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors for 100 gallons (380 L) of boiler volume.
• Medium Boilers: Apply one Boiler Lizard® per 1,000 gallons (3,800 L). These water-soluble tubes should be slit open to allow the release of corrosion inhibiting vapors. They conveniently dissolve in makeup water at startup (when applied to the water side).
• Large Boilers: Fog with the Boiler Dragon™ (bulk version of Boiler Gecko™) at the rate of one gallon per 1,000 gallons (1 L/1 m³) of boiler volume.
For wet layup, the Boiler Iguana™ should be added in a way that ensures complete mixing in the boiler at 2,000 ppm. It is effective in systems up to 302 °F (150 °C) and can be used in boilers on standby.
Lessons Learned for a Better Future
Boiler startup is the moment of truth, telling you whether or not boiler layup was successful. If something goes wrong this year, don’t despair. Take note and use it as an opportunity to improve your boiler protection next year! Contact Cortec® for more suggestions on achieving successful boiler and cooling system layup in every season.
Keywords: boiler startup, Cortec, boiler layup, corrosion, boiler problems, high iron levels in boiler water, iron scaling in boilers, cause of boiler tube leaks, corrosion inhibitors, seasonal layup tips
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