Where should a low-water cutoff be installed on a hot water heating boiler?

A low-water cutoff is a crucial safety device in hot water heating boilers, designed to stop the boiler from operating when the water level drops below a certain point. This is essential to prevent the boiler from running dry, which can lead to overheating and potentially catastrophic failure.

The correct position for installing a low-water cutoff is above the permissible water level of the boiler. This ensures that the device can effectively monitor the water level and shut down the system before it reaches critically low levels. By being placed above the minimum water level, the low-water cutoff can sense any drop in water level and react accordingly to protect the boiler.

Installing the low-water cutoff at the bottom of the tank, on a safety valve, or near a pressure gauge does not provide the necessary safety function. These locations could either result in false readings or fail to detect a low-water condition promptly, thereby compromising the safety of the boiler operation. Thus, positioning it above the acceptable water level is essential for reliable and effective boiler operation management.