When diagnosing a boiler not achieving its pressure, which component should be the primary focus?

In diagnosing a boiler that is not achieving its pressure, focusing on the feedwater pump is critical because it plays a direct role in supplying water to the boiler. The feedwater pump's primary function is to ensure that an adequate amount of water is fed into the boiler system under the right conditions. If the pump is malfunctioning, it can either not provide enough water or fail to maintain the necessary pressure for proper operation, leading to insufficient steam generation and lower system pressure.

While the other components mentioned can affect the boiler's performance, they do not have the same direct impact on pressure as the feedwater pump. For example, the temperature control valve manages the water temperature rather than the pressure directly, while the safety valve is a critical safety feature designed to release excess pressure rather than generate it. The blower motor supplies combustion air to the burner, and while it is essential for combustion efficiency, it does not directly affect the boiler's ability to achieve operating pressure as fundamentally as the feedwater pump does. Thus, prioritizing the feedwater pump in troubleshooting is essential to effectively address the issue at hand.