Brown water in Steam System OK?

john johanson_2

Is it acceptable that the water in the boiler is a brown color or should i keep blowing-down the boiler until the water comes out clear?

We have recently fired up a fairly large steam system in an old church which had been sitting unused for roughly 5 years. The wet return had not been properly winterized, and it needed replaced. Other than that, the system appears to be functioning well thus far, but has still seen little use.

I have been flushing the system each time it has been fired up, and the water has at times been a pretty strong brown color. It can take up to a bucket or two to clean this out, today i noticed that the water is also brown in water column viewing glass.

When it was first cleaned, there was some particulate matter that came out, but that seems to be all gone - just a brown color (i guess very tiny particulate).

Steamhead (in transit)

Keep flushing it

if the water looks any darker than weak tea, it's too dirty.

I suspect resurrecting that system knocked loose a lot of dirt, which now shows up in the boiler. Blow it down every day until it runs clear. If this goes on for more than a couple weeks or so, the entire system may need to be flushed.

Clean water makes good steam.

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john johanson_2

Thanks

Steamhead, It is definately darker than weak tea, so i'll keep blowing-down. Thanks for the quick response!