Steam Boiler Water

Big Ed_4

..... I would expect to find steam leaks. Run it up on pressure and you can hear the leaks. Fix them all they also cost you $$ in extra fuel. Then dump the boiler water a few times to clear. After that flush a little every two weeks.

Hans

Steam Boiler Water


Should the water visible in a steam boiler's sight glass be clear and clean looking? Mine is brownish, but stable and dry when steaming. It does not bounce around at all - it just looks dirty. I have to clean the sight glass every month or so otherwise it gets so fouled up you cannot see through it.

I understand from reading threads here that the introduction of fresh water is bad for the cast iron, so I am reluctant to dump the whole boiler and re-fill it if doing so would be bad for the system.

The boiler was installed and skimmed 5 years ago and I believe it has never been completely drained and re-filled since then. Would doing so now be problematic?

I have a friend who has a much older boiler, but his water is crystal clear.

Thanks for your advice.

mark ransley

We have a 50-60 yr old Kiwanee steam, Every year I drain and wash out the mud out of the 4 bottom plugs, every week I drain a gallon or so out the bottom until clear and drain the blowoff,or whatever the low water cutoff is. I wonder how bad the bottom of yours is, sediment affects life and efficency, get a pro out to go over your system completely. My sightglass is dirty but it only gets cleaned every 2-3 years and I can still see the level. Do you change the oil, coolant, in your car.

nicholas bonham-carter

worn out water??

remember that water does not wear out like motor oil; however it does get contaminated.in flushing out the boiler from the main boiler drain, you are washing out any sediment to prevent it from solidifying inside.the same is true with the LWCO.
when you refill the boiler after this operation, run the burner to drive out some of the dissolved oxygen.--nbc