NYC CUSTODIAN ENGINEER EXAM PREP
UPDATED STUDY GUIDE SOLVED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
◉ What should an operator do if no water is visible in the gauge
glass of a steam boiler?
Answer: Shut the burner down and determine true water level.
◉ What is the purpose of the low-water cutoff (LWCO)?
Answer: To shut off fuel when water falls below a safe level.
◉ What can cause a float-type LWCO to fail?
Answer: Sludge or scale in the chamber.
◉ What does the gauge glass show in a boiler?
Answer: The water level.
◉ What does blowing down the water column help confirm?
Answer: That the level passages are open and accurate.
◉ What controls the operating pressure on a steam boiler?
,Answer: Pressure control.
◉ What controls the operating temperature on a hot-water boiler?
Answer: Aquastat.
◉ What does the safety valve protect the boiler from?
Answer: Overpressure.
◉ What should a safety valve never be?
Answer: Plugged or isolated in service.
◉ What can scale buildup in an LWCO chamber cause?
Answer: False level sensing.
◉ What is the main purpose of the feedwater system?
Answer: To maintain a safe boiler water level.
◉ How does a steam boiler differ from a hot-water boiler?
Answer: It produces steam for distribution.
◉ What should not be done if a nuisance trip occurs on an LWCO?
Answer: Bypassed as a normal response.
,◉ What can poor heat transfer in a boiler result from?
Answer: Scale and sediment buildup.
◉ What indicates frequent lifting of a safety valve?
Answer: Another problem such as control failure or overfiring.
◉ What is a danger of a clogged gauge glass connection?
Answer: It may show a false normal water level.
◉ What is the best answer regarding the safety valve?
Answer: It should never be plugged or isolated in service.
◉ What does the water column connect in a boiler?
Answer: The boiler to the gauge glass and low-water controls.
◉ What is the difference between a pressure control used for
normal cycling and a safety high-limit device?
Answer: The pressure control is used for normal cycling.
◉ What is a common cause of scale buildup in an LWCO chamber?
Answer: Sludge accumulation.
, ◉ What is the first action if no water is visible in the gauge glass?
Answer: Shut the burner down and determine true water level.
◉ What is the purpose of bottom blowdown?
Answer: To remove sediment from low points.
◉ What is a common misconception about steam boilers?
Answer: That they never need controls.
◉ What should be done if a safety valve is frequently lifting?
Answer: Investigate for control failure or overfiring.
◉ What does the safety valve protect against?
Answer: Overpressure in the boiler.
◉ What is the main purpose of a safety valve?
Answer: To prevent boiler overpressure.
◉ What is the burner flame?
Answer: The flame produced by the burner in a boiler, used to heat
water and generate steam.
UPDATED STUDY GUIDE SOLVED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
◉ What should an operator do if no water is visible in the gauge
glass of a steam boiler?
Answer: Shut the burner down and determine true water level.
◉ What is the purpose of the low-water cutoff (LWCO)?
Answer: To shut off fuel when water falls below a safe level.
◉ What can cause a float-type LWCO to fail?
Answer: Sludge or scale in the chamber.
◉ What does the gauge glass show in a boiler?
Answer: The water level.
◉ What does blowing down the water column help confirm?
Answer: That the level passages are open and accurate.
◉ What controls the operating pressure on a steam boiler?
,Answer: Pressure control.
◉ What controls the operating temperature on a hot-water boiler?
Answer: Aquastat.
◉ What does the safety valve protect the boiler from?
Answer: Overpressure.
◉ What should a safety valve never be?
Answer: Plugged or isolated in service.
◉ What can scale buildup in an LWCO chamber cause?
Answer: False level sensing.
◉ What is the main purpose of the feedwater system?
Answer: To maintain a safe boiler water level.
◉ How does a steam boiler differ from a hot-water boiler?
Answer: It produces steam for distribution.
◉ What should not be done if a nuisance trip occurs on an LWCO?
Answer: Bypassed as a normal response.
,◉ What can poor heat transfer in a boiler result from?
Answer: Scale and sediment buildup.
◉ What indicates frequent lifting of a safety valve?
Answer: Another problem such as control failure or overfiring.
◉ What is a danger of a clogged gauge glass connection?
Answer: It may show a false normal water level.
◉ What is the best answer regarding the safety valve?
Answer: It should never be plugged or isolated in service.
◉ What does the water column connect in a boiler?
Answer: The boiler to the gauge glass and low-water controls.
◉ What is the difference between a pressure control used for
normal cycling and a safety high-limit device?
Answer: The pressure control is used for normal cycling.
◉ What is a common cause of scale buildup in an LWCO chamber?
Answer: Sludge accumulation.
, ◉ What is the first action if no water is visible in the gauge glass?
Answer: Shut the burner down and determine true water level.
◉ What is the purpose of bottom blowdown?
Answer: To remove sediment from low points.
◉ What is a common misconception about steam boilers?
Answer: That they never need controls.
◉ What should be done if a safety valve is frequently lifting?
Answer: Investigate for control failure or overfiring.
◉ What does the safety valve protect against?
Answer: Overpressure in the boiler.
◉ What is the main purpose of a safety valve?
Answer: To prevent boiler overpressure.
◉ What is the burner flame?
Answer: The flame produced by the burner in a boiler, used to heat
water and generate steam.
