Before starting the fires in a boiler, the attendant should-

(1) Check the sufficient water in the boiler and that the gauge corks are working freely;

(2) Ease safety valves or open cork on top of boiler to allow air to escape;

(3) Check the blow-off cork is fully closed and tight;

(4) Check the safety valves and feed check valves are free and workable;

(5) Assure the water is not leaking from any part of the boiler;

(6) Calibrate the pressure gauge pointer is at zero;

(7) Check that the feed Pump is in working order 

He must not rely on the supposition that the water he has previously put in is still

in the boiler , as it may have run out without his knowledge through a leak or open

cork, nor can be sure that the gauge glass shows the true water-level until he has

tested it. This is done in the following manner :

Shut off the lower gauge cork and empty the glass by the drain cork; then shut

the drain cork and open the gauge cork; if everything is in order, the water

will then rise in the glass to the same height as before.