\"Flushing\" Steam Boiler

mack_2

A question for pros only:

I was reading the directions on a steam boiler cleaner and it talks about draining and then "flushing" the boiler.

I understand how to drain the boiler, but how does one then "flush" the boiler?

Thank you.

nicholas bonham-carter

a clean boiler is a good boiler-- sometimes

the most information on cleaning your steam boiler is to be found in "the lost art of steam heating", available on this site.
when you read it, you will become more knowlegable about these systems in general, and in particular about your own particular type of steam system!
as you spend more time reading these postings on this site, you will find that a large number of steam problems are due to dirty water, which cannot boil properly, and as a result makes wet steam.
you will learn how to drain off the top of the water where most of the impurities are.
its purchase price in some cases is repaid in 1 day!--nbc

oil-2-4-6-gas

there is no need for chemicals -just skim skim skim --unless this is a new install --then some chemicals And Skim ,Skim ,Skim

Hans

Steam Boiler Draining versus \"Flushing\"


Let me re-phrase my question please...

I have hired a contractor to clean my steam boiler. He is coming next week. When he came to look at it this week he said he would clean it using this boiler cleanner stuff - he left the bottle in the basement. I was reading the instructions. It talks about pouring it in, letting it steam, and then draining and FLUSHING the boiler. In order for me to be able to tell if this guy is doing it properly (and that he is not a knucklehead) what can I expect him to do when it comes to FLUSHING the boiler?

What is the difference between "draining" and "flushing"? The people at Hercules must think there is a difference since they call it out in their product specs.

I appreciate the tip about buying Dan's book, but I have this guy coming over early next week and I am just looking for some quick insignt from a PRO, not another Homeowner, on what to expect from a cleanning job by a contractor who really knows what he is doing.

Thank you.

Hans

flushing

My father forgot to point out that the guy specifically said he would have to "flush" the boiler. He did not specify what that meant and we forgot to ask at the time. What can we expect from this so called flushing procedure?

tim smith

Is this a new install?? or are you having a problem with bouncin

water line? Why are you having it cleaned? If older boiler, you will probably loosen up lots of impurities and need to skim and skim after they have cleaned and flushed. Now this may be an ok thing but someone will have to spend hours skimming. It probably does need skimming but I doubt if he is offering skim and flush that he is including skimming. But skimming will be needed. Especially after the chemical and flush. We would normally not do chemicals, but pull the mud leg plugs and rod out the legs and flush out with clean water. Then refill boiler. Maybe have to skim after that once or twice but most the time not on an older boiler. Just my limited knowledge opinion. Tim

JohnNY

Drain v flush

Drain means just that: open a valve and let all the water out.
Flush means refill it with fresh water a few times and drain that out one way or another.



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Steamhead (in transit)

Either that

or flush it out with a hose. If the installer left proper access, this works very well. Do not hose-flush a hot boiler- wait till it cools!

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