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30 minutes

Timco
Timco Member Posts: 3,040
looks like it needs to have all the rads/mains flushed, then the boiler after using chemicals for a good clean. You should not be adding that much fresh water...no good on boiler, but your numbers look good.

Tim
Just a guy running some pipes.

Comments

  • Tim_64
    Tim_64 Member Posts: 76
    30 minutes

    Trying to fine tune my steam heat system today..

    Replaced some vents and tried to optimize radiator venting...

    Cold skimmed and drained the system, refilled..(I do this every other day)

    From a cold start/system, it took 35 minute to satisfy the thermostat... and only bumped the pressure cut off twice..

    7 minutes to feel heat at end of a main

    3 more minutes until farthest radiator valve was hot..

    8 more minutes and all radiators starting to heat.

    6 more minutes all radiators are hot

    35 minutes total to satisfy a 5 deg call for heat

    I'm getting close to a well tuned system finally?

    Attached is a pic of the skim water.... I'm guessing ideally it needs to be cleaner...

    The system I attached the new boiler to was neglected for probably 30 years...

    tia
  • Dave Stroman
    Dave Stroman Member Posts: 764


    Well, what do you expect the water in an iron system to look like. It looks fine to me. You should be skimming the boiler when it is hot, not cold. Do it just before it starts to make steam. You are looking to skim off the oils from the manufacturing. Other that that, let it work. Sounds like it is doing just fine.

    Dave Stroman
    Dave Stroman
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    Clarification

    "7 minutes to feel heat at end of a main"

    7 mins measured from when the burner started, or from when the steam started to leave the boiler?

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  • Tim_64
    Tim_64 Member Posts: 76
    7 mins

    it was 7 minutes from when the boiler fired. the boiler water was at 120 deg at that time (hw aqaustat satisfied)
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    That

    sounds about right. Assuming all radiators heat up evenly, you're in good shape.

    But if the water gets any dirtier, keep flushing & skimming.

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