Study Guide Questions (LA Steam Engineer License
Exam) NEWEST EXAM 2026-2027 COMPLETE 110
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY
GRADED A+ BRAND NEW!!
How do you determine whether feedwater check valve for the boiler is not closing? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Check the temperature differential at the check valve when feedwater pump is not in
operation.
How do you prevent corrosion or pitting? What effect has oxygen or carbon dioxide on metals? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Corrosion is prevented by removing oxygen and other gases by
preheating the boiler feedwater, adding oxygenscavenging chemical sulfite and keeping boiler
water pH above 9.0 (prevents from acid corrosion).Oxygen causes pitting of boiler metal and
carbon dioxide forms a carbonic acid that can cause acidic corrosion.
How do you test a safety valve to see if it operates at the proper set pressure? What is the
difference between a safety valve and a relief valve? How often do you test these valves? How is
leaking safety valve repaired? - CORRECT ANSWER: Pressure valves can be tested
hydrostatically (boiler filled up with water pressure).Safety valves open instantaneously and
relief valves do not open fully with a set pressure.Safety valves are tested manually once a month
and pressure tested once a year.Safety valves can be only repaired by a manufacturer or an
authorized company.
How long can an operating boiler be left unattended? - CORRECT ANSWER: 10 minutes
How often should a boiler be blown down? If the boiler water is treated, is it necessary to blow
down the boiler everyday? Why? What is the purpose of treating the boiler water? What is TDS?
- CORRECT ANSWER: Boiler should be blown down at least once every 24 hours, even if the
boiler water is treated. By doing bottom blowdown we get rid of mud-like sludge and solid
sediments that settle at the mud drum bottom. We chemically treat boiler water to prevent
formation of scale on boiler heating surfaces,pitting of boiler metal, foaming and priming. TDS
, stands for "total dissolved solids". For a boiler up to 250 psi amount of TDS shall not exceed
3000 -3500 ppm.
If a boiler was very low on water and showed signs of overheating,should you fill it withwater to
cool it down? - CORRECT ANSWER: Absolutely not. It might cause an explosion or at least
thermal shock to the boiler metal.
If the boiler feedwater pump is operating and the boiler feedwater is not rising, what is the best
thing to do? Can you increase the speed of the feedwater pump for more water volume? -
CORRECT ANSWER: One of the options available is to decrease firing rate of the boiler and
see if the water level stabilizes. Another option is to bring the second pump on line.If these two
options do not remedy the situation and the boiler water level cannot be maintained, the boiler
must be secured.We cannot increase speed of the feedwater pump.
Name some of the causes of an excessive amount of accumulated soot in the firebox and tubes of
an oil burning boiler. - CORRECT ANSWER: Improper air/fuel ratio.Dirty burner nozzles.Poor
fuel atomization.
What are the precautions to be observed when starting any boiler that has been closed dow
overnight? Are there any special precautions required starting a gas burning boiler? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Make a physical observation of the boiler and its systems, walk around the boilerto
check for any abnormal conditions such as flammable material at the dampers, fuel
leaks,damaged electrical conduits, etc. Check all boiler systems (feedwater, fuel, etc). Very
important issue in starting a gas firing boiler is a furnace prepurge. It is never has to be altered or
bypassed.
What causes boiler tubes to overheat and fail? - CORRECT ANSWER: Scale formation on
waterside of the tubes causes overheating and failure.
What causes foaming in the boiler? How would you know when a boiler is foaming? How do
you stop foaming in a boiler? - CORRECT ANSWER: High TDS, organic matter and oil in the
boiler cases foaming. If the water level in the gage glass fluctuates, the most probable cause of
thisis foaming. We reduce amount of TDS by continuous and bottom blowdowns;we use anti-
foaming chemicals to prevent foaming.
Exam) NEWEST EXAM 2026-2027 COMPLETE 110
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY
GRADED A+ BRAND NEW!!
How do you determine whether feedwater check valve for the boiler is not closing? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Check the temperature differential at the check valve when feedwater pump is not in
operation.
How do you prevent corrosion or pitting? What effect has oxygen or carbon dioxide on metals? -
CORRECT ANSWER: Corrosion is prevented by removing oxygen and other gases by
preheating the boiler feedwater, adding oxygenscavenging chemical sulfite and keeping boiler
water pH above 9.0 (prevents from acid corrosion).Oxygen causes pitting of boiler metal and
carbon dioxide forms a carbonic acid that can cause acidic corrosion.
How do you test a safety valve to see if it operates at the proper set pressure? What is the
difference between a safety valve and a relief valve? How often do you test these valves? How is
leaking safety valve repaired? - CORRECT ANSWER: Pressure valves can be tested
hydrostatically (boiler filled up with water pressure).Safety valves open instantaneously and
relief valves do not open fully with a set pressure.Safety valves are tested manually once a month
and pressure tested once a year.Safety valves can be only repaired by a manufacturer or an
authorized company.
How long can an operating boiler be left unattended? - CORRECT ANSWER: 10 minutes
How often should a boiler be blown down? If the boiler water is treated, is it necessary to blow
down the boiler everyday? Why? What is the purpose of treating the boiler water? What is TDS?
- CORRECT ANSWER: Boiler should be blown down at least once every 24 hours, even if the
boiler water is treated. By doing bottom blowdown we get rid of mud-like sludge and solid
sediments that settle at the mud drum bottom. We chemically treat boiler water to prevent
formation of scale on boiler heating surfaces,pitting of boiler metal, foaming and priming. TDS
, stands for "total dissolved solids". For a boiler up to 250 psi amount of TDS shall not exceed
3000 -3500 ppm.
If a boiler was very low on water and showed signs of overheating,should you fill it withwater to
cool it down? - CORRECT ANSWER: Absolutely not. It might cause an explosion or at least
thermal shock to the boiler metal.
If the boiler feedwater pump is operating and the boiler feedwater is not rising, what is the best
thing to do? Can you increase the speed of the feedwater pump for more water volume? -
CORRECT ANSWER: One of the options available is to decrease firing rate of the boiler and
see if the water level stabilizes. Another option is to bring the second pump on line.If these two
options do not remedy the situation and the boiler water level cannot be maintained, the boiler
must be secured.We cannot increase speed of the feedwater pump.
Name some of the causes of an excessive amount of accumulated soot in the firebox and tubes of
an oil burning boiler. - CORRECT ANSWER: Improper air/fuel ratio.Dirty burner nozzles.Poor
fuel atomization.
What are the precautions to be observed when starting any boiler that has been closed dow
overnight? Are there any special precautions required starting a gas burning boiler? - CORRECT
ANSWER: Make a physical observation of the boiler and its systems, walk around the boilerto
check for any abnormal conditions such as flammable material at the dampers, fuel
leaks,damaged electrical conduits, etc. Check all boiler systems (feedwater, fuel, etc). Very
important issue in starting a gas firing boiler is a furnace prepurge. It is never has to be altered or
bypassed.
What causes boiler tubes to overheat and fail? - CORRECT ANSWER: Scale formation on
waterside of the tubes causes overheating and failure.
What causes foaming in the boiler? How would you know when a boiler is foaming? How do
you stop foaming in a boiler? - CORRECT ANSWER: High TDS, organic matter and oil in the
boiler cases foaming. If the water level in the gage glass fluctuates, the most probable cause of
thisis foaming. We reduce amount of TDS by continuous and bottom blowdowns;we use anti-
foaming chemicals to prevent foaming.
