when to skim?

kevin_60

Check out the thread " help me understand this paragraph from dans lost art of steam". It talks about the Lobbestael method of checking if boiler is clean and making dry steam.

Mark_122

When to skim?

Is there a sign of when to skim a steam boiler? Or is it done one in a while for maintenance. (I'm guessing that a few times in the past since I didn't know better I may have use a small amount of "neverseize) on the threads of vent valves. Not sure if that's enough to cause problem if a bit got to far into the joint,.BTW what did guys use before teflon tape?

Seems to be working OK, but wondering if the steam could be more efficient(?).

BTW I use Stewart-Warners "8 way boiler" treatment,..I see now that some guys don't think you should use anything. I use it to keep the water slightly alkaline, as its and OLD GE downdraft steel boiler (that seems to be working fine)

I was told to replace this with a new "more efficient" one in another building which I did. Saw NO change in the fuel use in a year with nearly exactly the same heating degree days.