Adding water to steamer

Charles G.

Yes & yes.

Howard_4

My steam boiler uses about 1 inch of water on the site glass per month. Is that normal water loss? also is there a certain procedure to add water, should it be off since the water i add is cold?

Al Letellier_9

adding water

A properly vented and clean steam system should use little or no water. We have systems on auto fills with digital readouts that indicate no water added in 2 years....check your vents to be sure. The loss you experience is minimal and may be normal for your system, but check the vents.
As to adding water, its OK to add water almost any time, just do it very slowly. Auto fills add water when the boiler is hot and steaming, but do it at a rate of about 1 GPM, so go slow.

Howard_4

All my air valves are pretty new. The biggest radiator has the varivalve. But im hearing its not that good.

Cast Iron

Me too.

Hi,
My new boiler lost about 3/4" in a month of operation. This was equal to about 1/2 a gallon. I think, that when the radiator air valves cycle on temp when the system is full of steam, a small amount of steam is going to escape. But I could be wrong.

In comparison to my old leaky boiler, this is nothing. With that one I would add one inch of water per WEEK.

Howard_4

i was adding water 2x a day with my old boiler.

midway_2

add 1 inch daily

Have to fill at least an inch every day. just found out the oil co. contract is suppose to clean the water each yr. when they do yearly tune-up but they haven't been doing it. vents are plugged up, water is dirty as he--. whats the best cleaner you recommend? How about "scout boiler cleaner"?