Why do steel burners corrode prematurely?

The correct answer highlights that overheating of burners can lead to heat corrosion, significantly contributing to the premature corrosion of steel burners. When burners operate at excessively high temperatures, the metal can weaken and become more susceptible to oxidation and other forms of deterioration. Overheating can occur due to improper adjustment of gas pressure, blocked air intake, or other factors that prevent the burner from functioning efficiently. As a result, the structural integrity of the steel diminishes, leading to premature failure.

While the other factors can contribute to burner corrosion, they do not directly result from the operational conditions and design of the burners as overheating does. Moisture in the air and exposure to chemicals may lead to corrosion over time, but they are not as immediate or as significant a cause as the overheating issue. Lack of maintenance can contribute to overheating and other operational problems, but it is the high temperatures themselves that primarily accelerate the corrosion process of the steel.