Hydrolevel Company

What Hydrolevel Company does

Hydrolevel Company is a privately held US manufacturer of boiler safety and level-monitoring controls founded in 1965 by engineer Michael DeLeonardis and operated under the legal entity Cowles Operating Company, headquartered and manufacturing at a single facility in North Haven, Connecticut. The company's core technology is a proprietary probe-type low water cut-off design that uses water's electrical conductivity and non-moving electrodes to detect boiler water level, replacing traditional mechanical float-type mechanisms that were prone to failure in harsh boiler environments. This technology was first commercialized under the Safgard trademark in 1965 and has been refined continuously for OEM specification compliance.

Hydrolevel's product portfolio spans residential, commercial, and industrial applications and includes the Safgard series of low water cut-offs (250, 400, 500, 700, 711, 724 series), the HydroStat family of temperature limit/LWCO combination controls, the VXT line of programmable water feeders for steam boilers, CycleGard foam-compensating cut-offs, the AcuTemp microcontroller-based temperature control for indirect water heaters, the HydroZone single zone switching relay, and the OFC oil furnace fan timer. Recent product launches include the Steam Pro Kit (2024), positioned as a replacement for the McDonnell & Miller 67 Series, and the OFC (2024).

The company's revenue model is hardware sales through two channels: direct OEM supply to major boiler manufacturers who embed Hydrolevel controls as components in their boiler products, and indirect distribution through a national network of plumbing and heating wholesalers serving heating contractors. Products are sold into both replacement and new-installation demand across steam and hot water boiler applications, with technical support and a dedicated customer service line serving as primary post-sale engagement. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and the company operates with a 51-100 employee footprint focused on US domestic markets only.

Name

Hydrolevel Company

Legal name

Cowles Operating Company

Website

https://hydrolevel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hydrolevel Company, founded 1965 in North Haven, Connecticut, manufactures probe-type boiler safety controls including low water cut-offs, temperature limit controls, and programmable water feeders, selling to major boiler manufacturers as an OEM supplier and to heating contractors through US wholesale distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boiler Controls

NAICS

Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (33241), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)

SIC

Steam & Air-Conditioning Supply (4961), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors) (IMAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Boiler control systems
• Low water cut-offs
• Temperature limit controls
• Water feeder systems
• HVAC boiler controls

Headquarters

HQ city

North Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Boiler Control Hardware Sales: Hydrolevel generates revenue through the sale of proprietary boiler control hardware including low water cut-offs, temperature limit controls, water feeders, and related accessories. Products are sold through wholesale distributors to heating contractors and directly to boiler manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hydrolevel Company manufactures and sells proprietary boiler control hardware, including probe-type low water cut-offs (Safgard series), universal temperature limit and LWCO combination controls (HydroStat), programmable water feeders (VXT/VXTC), foam-compensating low water cut-offs (CycleGard), and electronic temperature controls (AcuTemp), along with accessories such as zone switching relays and oil furnace fan timer controls. Products are sold through plumbing and heating wholesale distributors to heating contractors and directly to boiler manufacturers as OEM components for residential, commercial, and industrial boiler applications.

Product overview

Hydrolevel Company is a manufacturer of boiler controls and level monitoring devices founded in 1965. The company produces probe-type low water cut-off products under the Safgard trademark, along with temperature controls and water feeders. The product portfolio centers around the HydroStat family (temperature limit/LWCO combinations), VXT water feeders (programmable feed systems for residential and commercial steam boilers), and comprehensive low water cut-off solutions across multiple series (250, 400, 500, 700, 711, 724) for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Supporting products include AcuTemp temperature controls, HydroZone zone switching relays, and CycleGard foam-compensating cut-offs. All products are manufactured in North Haven, Connecticut.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safgard: The Safgard trademark was launched and production of the first probe-type low water cut-off was underway. Safgard is used for low water cut-off products including 250 Series, 400 Series, 500 Series, 700 Series, 711 & 724 Series, and 1100 Series.
• HydroStat
• VXT
• CycleGard

Products and services

• HydroStat Family of universal temperature limit and low water cut-off combination controls for residential and commercial boilers that combines LWCO functionality with temperature regulation.
• VXT Water Feeders Programmable water feeders for steam boilers, including VXT-24 (24 VAC) and VXT-120 (120 VAC) residential models, with programmable feed delay and feed amount settings and a digital feed counter.
• Safgard Low Water Cut-Offs Probe-type low water cut-offs (Safgard series including 250, 400, 500, 700, 711 and 724 Series) for steam and hot water boilers in residential, commercial, and industrial applications, with multiple voltage and mounting options and no moving parts.
• AcuTemp Microcontroller-based temperature control for indirect water heaters that uses an advanced software algorithm to monitor tank temperature changes and control the heating source to minimize fluctuations while optimizing fuel efficiency, with adjustable residential (60-160°F) and commercial (60-180°F) ranges.
• HydroZone Single zone switching relay for boiler systems that provides zone switching functionality for heating applications.
• OFC Oil Furnace Fan Timer Control Oil furnace fan timer control (OFC-5023) for use with 2- or 3-speed PSC motors in oil furnace applications.
• CycleGard CG400/CG450 Series Foam-compensating low water cut-off (CycleGard CG400 and CG450 Series) for steam boilers, designed to handle foam conditions in steam heating systems.
• VXTC Commercial Steam Water Feeder Commercial grade water feeder for steam boilers with programmable feed delay (0-10 min), programmable feed amount, LED indicating lights, and an integrated water meter, operating at 120 VAC with a 10 GPM flow rate at 40 PSI.
• Steam Pro Kit Low Water Cut-Off Kit for Steam Boiler Gauge Glass Attachment that includes a cast iron hub assembly, wiring whip, and low water cut-off with electronic single probe design and no floats to hang-up or foul, replacing McDonnell & Miller 67 Series and adapting to all 8" to 14" sight glasses.
• Safgard 250 Series Pump controller and LWCO combination with no moving parts, featuring electronic design with manifold casting and three model EL 1214 probes; WC model includes a water column manifold, with max steam pressure 250 PSI.
• Safgard 500 Series Low water cut-off for water boilers or secondary low water cut-off on steam boilers, featuring manual reset, burner circuit test button, and ASME CSD-1 compliance for commercial water boilers, with max pressure 160 PSI.
• Safgard 400 Series Low water cut-off series for steam boilers with automatic reset functionality.
• Safgard 711 & 724 Series Low water cut-off series for steam boilers with advanced probe technology.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Caleffi: Caleffi manufactures hydronic system components including valves, controls, and safety devices for boilers and heating systems. Its North American business directly overlaps with Hydrolevel's mid-market and commercial hydronic control offerings.
• TACO Comfort Solutions: TACO offers hydronic circulators, zone controls, and boiler-related electronics for residential and light commercial heating systems, competing with Hydrolevel's HydroZone switching relay and VXT water feeder products in the same contractor channel.
• Bell & Gossett (Xylem): Bell & Gossett is a leading manufacturer of hydronic pumps, valves, and control products for heating and cooling systems. Like Hydrolevel, it serves mechanical contractors through plumbing and heating wholesalers across the US.
• Watts Water Technologies: Watts manufactures water heating controls, valves, and safety devices for residential and commercial hydronic systems, overlapping directly with Hydrolevel's HydroStat, VXT, and AcuTemp product lines in the same plumbing and heating wholesale channel.
• Spirax-Sarco: Spirax-Sarco is a global specialist in steam systems and controls, including level controls, heat transfer, and boiler management. It is a comparable manufacturer of steam boiler control products sold through industrial channels.
• Armstrong International: Armstrong designs and manufactures steam and hot water system products, including controls, traps, and heat transfer equipment. It is directly comparable to Hydrolevel in steam boiler control hardware for industrial and commercial applications.
• McDonnell & Miller (Xylem): Xylem's McDonnell & Miller brand is the most direct competitor in low water cut-offs and boiler safety controls. Hydrolevel's Steam Pro Kit is explicitly designed to replace the McDonnell & Miller 67 Series, underscoring head-to-head competition in the same product category and channel.

Broad incumbents

• Grundfos: Grundfos is a global leader in pumps for heating, cooling, and hydronic systems, selling through plumbing and heating wholesalers. It is a broad incumbent serving the same end customers as Hydrolevel but focused on pumping rather than controls.
• Honeywell: Honeywell is a large industrial conglomerate with a portfolio of boiler and heating controls, including burner controls and temperature limits. It competes with Hydrolevel in OEM boiler controls but as part of a much broader industrial and building technologies portfolio.
• Wilo: Wilo is a major manufacturer of pumps and hydronic systems components globally, including circulators used in boiler heating systems. It is a broad incumbent in the same mechanical contractor channel rather than a focused LWCO peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hydrolevel Company