MM67 How often to Clean?

Big-Al_2

Thanks for the replies! Point well taken. I can see how crud in the bellows could stop it from moving. I did clean out the pigtail at the same time, and took off a couple of fittings to flush the boiler out with a hose too. Last hear I flushed out lots of sediment . . . this year not so much.

I think the water side of the boiler is ready to go. I used to set up the ribbon burners on my old gas furnace just by looking at the flames. However, I'm thinking I should probably get somebody in with the right equipment to check out the flame side of this boiler.

Al Hendrickson

Last night I took apart the McDonnel Miller 67 LWCO on my home boiler, expecting to find a crusty mess. It probably hasn't been opened up since the previous owner had the boiler installed in 2001. I was surprised to find that it was pretty clean. I rinsed off the float mechanism under a faucet, rinsed out the housing, cleaned the mating surfaces, installed a new gasket and put it together again.

I test the LWCO weekly during the heating season by opening the ball valve at the bottom. This must keep the housing pretty clear of sediment.

So, in my case, how often should the LWCO actually be taken apart and inspected. Annually? Every couple of years? There is a 1/4" pipe plug right over the bellows. Would it be sufficient some years to take out the plug and rinse off the float without taking the whole thing apart?

So, what part typically fails on this unit . . . the metal bellows? The switch? Other than looking for a buildup of crud, is there a particular part I should inspect extra well?

Thanks in advance!

Al

tim smith

It is recommended that it be opened up once a year, be that said

you are one that takes blow down seriously and that is why it is kept clean as it was. Pig tails to pressure switches should be cleaned at same time also. I think that once a year is a good idea and it is pretty easy to do. Good luck, Tim

gerry gill

we take our customers

67's apart yearly for cleaning..it doesn't take much schmutz in the bellows ripples to foul it..sounds like you have a nice clean system..

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Big-Al_2

Thanks too . . . see above . . .

Tom Hopkins

Is that a M/M recommendation in the literature? Or just good maintenance practice on your part?