If a gauge glass breaks, what should be done immediately?

When a gauge glass breaks, it is crucial to address the situation promptly to ensure safety and prevent further issues. Closing the water and steam valves is the immediate priority in this scenario. By doing so, you stop the flow of both water and steam, which mitigates the risk of a dangerous situation where the boiler may potentially overheat or experience significant pressure variations.

Leaving the valves open could lead to hazardous conditions because a broken gauge glass can lead to an inability to accurately read the water level in the boiler, which is vital for safe operation. If the water level drops too low, it could result in overheating and potential damage to the boiler or even boiler failure.

Assessing and notifying maintenance, replacing the gauge glass, or increasing the pressure are all important steps that need to follow after the immediate mitigation response, but ensuring that the water and steam valves are closed is vital to maintaining safety until repairs can be made.