What can cause the low-water cutoff to activate?

The low-water cutoff is a critical safety device in steam boilers designed to prevent damage by shutting down the burner when the water level in the boiler falls below a certain point. This situation can arise from several factors, with water supply failure or leaks being among the most significant.

When there is a water supply failure, the system can no longer maintain the necessary water level for safe operation. Similarly, leaks in the boiler or associated piping can lead to a loss of water, triggering the low-water cutoff. In both cases, the device detects that the water level is dropping and activates, which ultimately helps prevent overheating and potential boiler damage or failure.

Other options, while potentially problematic for a boiler's operation, do not directly relate to the activation of the low-water cutoff in the same way. Improperly calibrated gauges might give misleading readings, but they do not cause the actual water level to decline. A malfunctioning burner does not directly influence the water level either; it primarily affects the heating and pressure of the steam. Lastly, a lack of fuel supply, while impacting the burner operation, doesn’t necessarily relate to the water level conditions in the boiler itself.