What is the primary purpose of the condensate pump?

The primary purpose of the condensate pump is to overcome the resistance or pressure of the boiler. In steam systems, after steam has passed through the heating elements and released its latent heat, it condenses back into liquid water or condensate. This condensate must be removed from the system and returned to the boiler for reuse. The condensate pump facilitates this by generating the necessary pressure to push the condensate back against the system's pressure or resistance, ensuring that the boiler operates efficiently and maintains the desired water level for steam production.

The other options do not accurately represent the main function of a condensate pump. While increasing water temperature or supplying sufficient water to heating elements is important in a heating system, these functions are typically performed by other system components like boilers or water heaters, not the condensate pump. Preventing noise in the system is more related to system design or other mechanical issues rather than the direct function of a condensate pump, which is focused on moving condensate effectively within the system.