PIPE FITTER NEWEST TIPS 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is the cause of the most common problems encountered after start-up of
steam boilers and systems? - ✔✔improper cleaning and flushing
✔✔What is likely to occur if there is a heavy concentration of dissolved or suspended
particles in the boiler water? - ✔✔The water may foam and could cause priming
✔✔What should be done with the results of all pertinent test results during the test, start
and balance phases of a system start-up? - ✔✔Record the results and have the results
verified
✔✔What does the term pass in boiler terminology mean? - ✔✔The number of times of
the products of combustion travel the length of the boiler
✔✔What is the main advantage of steam over hydronic systems? - ✔✔speed of
transmission
✔✔What is the usual maximum circulating speed of water for a low temperature hot
water heating system? - ✔✔4 feet per second
✔✔What does load tracking refer to when discussing boilers? - ✔✔The ability of a boiler
to respond to changes in steam or hot water demand
✔✔Advantage for two-pipe gravity system with wet return - ✔✔Allows for throttling of
valves on supply side of the radiation, making it possible to have better temperature
control over individual spaces
✔✔A vapour steam system is a system in which a self-induced vacuum occurs -
✔✔True
, ✔✔How is a vapour steam system setup? - ✔✔By installing non-return air vents on the
system
✔✔How is a pump operated in a pumped condensate return system? - ✔✔By a float
control in the receiver tank
✔✔When is a 'pump and receiver' steam heating system used? - ✔✔When the source
of the heating system is from the mains on a process or power steam system
✔✔What does "NOWL" stand for? - ✔✔Normal operating water level
✔✔In systems where more than one boiler is required to provide steam, what must be
installed on the supply AND return side of the boilers in accordance to ASME? -
✔✔Stop valve
✔✔What do float and thermostatic traps do on high-water relief lines? - ✔✔Prevent loss
of steam space in boilers
✔✔Why do pump and receiver systems have a second pump installed? - ✔✔To act as a
standby pump in case the primary feed pump fails
✔✔What are steam heating systems initially categorized by? - ✔✔Pressure
✔✔How are LP steam heating systems sub-categorized? - ✔✔By the method used to
return condensate to the boiler
✔✔What should a steam main be graded at? - ✔✔1" every 20'
✔✔Because there is no condensate returned to the boiler to be reused, all the water
entering the boiler needs to be treated - ✔✔True
✔✔Condensate returns to the boiler against the steam flow in a ___________ main -
✔✔Counter flow
✔✔If there is more than one boiler supplying the steam header, the water level in each
boiler should be controlled by its own ___________ - ✔✔Level control switch
✔✔What should the grade/slope be in a boiler header? 1/4" per foot - ✔✔
✔✔What are the functions of a vent valve in a steam heating system? - ✔✔To permit air
to be vented, the close when steam contacts the valves and to close when water
contacts the valve
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is the cause of the most common problems encountered after start-up of
steam boilers and systems? - ✔✔improper cleaning and flushing
✔✔What is likely to occur if there is a heavy concentration of dissolved or suspended
particles in the boiler water? - ✔✔The water may foam and could cause priming
✔✔What should be done with the results of all pertinent test results during the test, start
and balance phases of a system start-up? - ✔✔Record the results and have the results
verified
✔✔What does the term pass in boiler terminology mean? - ✔✔The number of times of
the products of combustion travel the length of the boiler
✔✔What is the main advantage of steam over hydronic systems? - ✔✔speed of
transmission
✔✔What is the usual maximum circulating speed of water for a low temperature hot
water heating system? - ✔✔4 feet per second
✔✔What does load tracking refer to when discussing boilers? - ✔✔The ability of a boiler
to respond to changes in steam or hot water demand
✔✔Advantage for two-pipe gravity system with wet return - ✔✔Allows for throttling of
valves on supply side of the radiation, making it possible to have better temperature
control over individual spaces
✔✔A vapour steam system is a system in which a self-induced vacuum occurs -
✔✔True
, ✔✔How is a vapour steam system setup? - ✔✔By installing non-return air vents on the
system
✔✔How is a pump operated in a pumped condensate return system? - ✔✔By a float
control in the receiver tank
✔✔When is a 'pump and receiver' steam heating system used? - ✔✔When the source
of the heating system is from the mains on a process or power steam system
✔✔What does "NOWL" stand for? - ✔✔Normal operating water level
✔✔In systems where more than one boiler is required to provide steam, what must be
installed on the supply AND return side of the boilers in accordance to ASME? -
✔✔Stop valve
✔✔What do float and thermostatic traps do on high-water relief lines? - ✔✔Prevent loss
of steam space in boilers
✔✔Why do pump and receiver systems have a second pump installed? - ✔✔To act as a
standby pump in case the primary feed pump fails
✔✔What are steam heating systems initially categorized by? - ✔✔Pressure
✔✔How are LP steam heating systems sub-categorized? - ✔✔By the method used to
return condensate to the boiler
✔✔What should a steam main be graded at? - ✔✔1" every 20'
✔✔Because there is no condensate returned to the boiler to be reused, all the water
entering the boiler needs to be treated - ✔✔True
✔✔Condensate returns to the boiler against the steam flow in a ___________ main -
✔✔Counter flow
✔✔If there is more than one boiler supplying the steam header, the water level in each
boiler should be controlled by its own ___________ - ✔✔Level control switch
✔✔What should the grade/slope be in a boiler header? 1/4" per foot - ✔✔
✔✔What are the functions of a vent valve in a steam heating system? - ✔✔To permit air
to be vented, the close when steam contacts the valves and to close when water
contacts the valve
