How to clean?

Unknown

can get the PH <i>stable, and the water cleared-up</i>, then monthly blowdowns should be OK after that, but no longer!<BR><BR>Dave

Ken_51

How to clean boiler of rusty water?

Hi all -

I spent quite a few months on here 2 years ago trying to figure out my steam system, and thanks to many of you I was successful (I think). Replaced the block, kept the jacket, installed new main vents, played musical chairs with my radiators, bought some new ones, sized them all properly, and size the valves properly. It works great. It's still working great, except I'm burning more word than running the boiler and I'm wondering if that's what causing my UBER rusty water. I also "blew off" the boiler (it's a Burnham V8) following Dan's instructions in "The Lost of Art" after I did all the work and the water was 'fairly' clean. But this year it's REALLY rusty and orange. I pulled a few of the return loops and looked in them, rusty but it looked like it did after I installed them.

SO... my question is, any thoughts on (1) why it's all of a sudden rusty, (2) whether I should drain it and flush it again, or (3) call someone in to clean the whole system including radiators? Is the latter worth it or am I just asking for trouble? Any help would be greatly appreciated, the system is still working, but I know that rusty sediment has to be interfering with my steam efficiency.

THANKS!

cheers
John

Unknown

John,

if your boiler water is cruddy I would check the PH. I had a system that took 2 years of weekly blowdowns and skimming before clearing-up, this was 8 years ago and the system is still clean!
Rusty water is caused by system corrosion that washes back to the boiler. I try to run these about 9-10PH to better control the gunk.
But minimum weekly blowdowns are still performed, and the PH is always closely monitored.

Dave

Ken_51

Thanks Dave!

Sheesh, I've been negligent if you're blowing down every week... I'll take a pH reading tomorrow, I even have a portable pH meter handy! Thanks.

J~