Boilermakers are skilled craftspeople who design, build, and maintain boilers and vats that hold large amounts of gas or liquid. Pressure is used to heat fluids such as water, oil, beer, and other chemicals in boilers. When water is stored in a boiler, electricity is generated and heat is provided to buildings, plants, and factories. Boilermaker jobs entail not only the installation and maintenance of boilers, but also the fabrication of steel and the construction of bridges, furnaces, and mining equipment, among other projects.
Installing and repairing air pollution equipment, blasting furnaces, water treatment plants, storage tanks, and smoke stacks, installing heat-resistant materials like refractory brick in fireboxes and vessels, and installing and caring for dam pipes that direct water to and from hydroelectric power-generating turbines are all jobs for boilermakers. Boilermakers are also needed at electric power plants, which use high-pressure steam from boilers to spin the turbine blades that are connected to electric generators. Coal is typically used in these plants to generate steam in the boiler, and it is burned in the firebox.
Because a boiler typically lasts about 50 years, boilermakers’ jobs entail a variety of tasks, including upgrades. Boilermakers should upgrade parts of the boiler, such as the tubes, heating components, and ductwork, to ensure that efficiency is consistently high. Inspection of all parts of the boiler, including fittings, feed pumps, safety and check valves, boiler controls, water and pressure gauges, and auxiliary machinery, is part of the boilermaker’s job. Boilermakers are in charge of making sure that all parts are in good working order and that they comply with safety regulations. Tools, torches, and welding equipment are used to replace parts that are no longer functional or outdated.
Cleaning the vats of large boilers with wire brushes, scrapers, and solvents is also part of the job of a boilermaker. To ensure the boiler’s optimal performance, leaks must be repaired and weak spots replaced with stronger parts and sections. A boilermaker’s job description will almost always state that he or she is familiar with boiler designs and patterns. This is due to the fact that boilermakers use tools and torches to cut and weld metal pieces together in order to repair boilers.
A boilermaker’s job also necessitates the ability to assemble the boiler’s sections and wedges so that they fit together properly. Hammers, files, and grinders are frequently used in this process. Only people who are comfortable working with heavy, dangerous equipment should consider becoming a boilermaker.