14 FABRICARE FE ATURE continued from page 13 by leaky ball float valves (Roberts Valve) found in almost every return tank is a boiler killer. In order to prevent pump cavitation caused by high return tank water temperature, uninformed operators sometimes run a stream of new water into the return tank to cool it. Leaky ball float valves (Roberts Valve) and return tank water cooling using this method will KILL BOILERS by overwhelming the capacity of the boiler compound to treat the water, both by adding large amounts of oxygen and also diluting other boiler treatment chemicals. Water Hardness: Water hardness is the measure of calcium and magnesium content. Calcium and magnesium carbonates are the major components of scale, which is the hard layer that forms on the metal surfaces inside of boilers and pipes. Its formation is controlled by: 1. Removing as many scale-forming carbonates as possible before they enter the boiler is a process called “water softening.” Water softener services routinely replace the active components of the softening system or you can own and maintain your own water softener. Either requires the replenishment of the softening media (most often salt) based upon the original “hardness” of the incoming water and the volume of water treated. Hardness levels should be monitored regularly by sampling then testing the water. 2. Chemicals in the boiler compound which keep the carbonates from hardening on metal surfaces. Both of the methods listed above are defeated by excessive volumes of new untreated water entering the return tank. Once again the culprit is usually the fault of the ball float valve (Roberts Valve) leaking. That leaking ball float valve is so common, unnoticed, and destructive that I designed an electronic level control which replaces this relic of the 18th Century. The electronic level control is called the EZ-Level control and is available now. Mention the Ad in this issue and save 10%. Bruce Grossman is the Chief of R&D for EZtimers Manufacturing. EZtimers is the manufacturer of the new EZ Level return tank water level control. To prevent boiler scaling and other damage the EZ Level return tank water level control replaces that troublesome ball float valve in the condensate return tank. For saving money on handling waste the SAHARA and DROP IN THE BUCKET line of high purity separator water mister/evaporators provide a thrifty, legal method to get rid of the separator water generated by your dry-cleaning machine. See our Ad in this issue and for further information on EZtimers products visit www.eztimers.com Please address any questions or comments for Bruce to bruce@eztimers.com or call (702) 376-6693.