Retubing boilers and heat exchangers offers numerous benefits for businesses. Commercial and industrial boilers are more durable, require less maintenance, and last longer. They have proven to be more energy-efficient and reliable than residential boilers. Additionally, they are customizable to meet the unique needs of a business, providing a significant amount of hot water or steam, making them ideal for operations requiring consistent power. Furthermore, commercial boilers can aid businesses in reducing their carbon footprint, thereby enhancing their environmental impact.

This page serves as a guide for those seeking to understand the procedures for removing and replacing tubes in boilers, heat exchangers, condensers, and oil coolers. These processes can be labor-intensive, with tube removal often constituting over 75% of the total labor costs. Success requires knowledge of tube removal and replacement, including cutting, pulling, and rigging tubes. This guide also addresses repair techniques such as tube plugging and sleeving, aiming to provide valuable information for contractors, engineers, and technicians to complete their projects.

Logistics Associated with Retubing
Logistics are crucial. Timely and budget-conscious completion depends on manpower considerations. It is essential to have experienced lead hands skilled in all aspects of tube removal and installation. Confirm the availability of power, whether pneumatic or electric. Understand the boiler room’s burning and welding procedures. Determine the required level of third-party liability insurance. 

Check the availability of new tubes, their outer diameter (OD), Birmingham Wire Gauge (BWG), and the lead time for onsite delivery. If working in a sub-basement, ensure confined space procedures are in place. Verify that welders’ qualifications are current. Identify who will be responsible for shutting down the boiler and providing the technician for this task. Coordination with the stationary/steam engineer will clarify these responsibilities.

Contact for Powermaster Industrial for all you tube tool needs.