Cleaning the water in my boiler

Bruce_28

I'm having knocking and distribution issues with my steam heat system. it makes noise and doesn't heat some rooms. I've replaced the main vents, but I also think I need to clean the water. I drain it a few times a month and it's coming out much dirtier than last year...almost muddy. I spoke with the local plumbing supply shop and they gave me the following method. I wondered if anyone can comment on this process...does it sound right to you? I don't want to blow anything up or crack my boiler! THANKS...here's what I'm planning on doing:

1 - mix "dry steam #3 boiler cleaner and conditioner" (a powder) with a bucket of water. i think it should be water from the boiler.

2 - put that mixture in the boiler through the relief valve.

3 - run the boiler normally for a day or two

4 - turn the boiler off and empty it. let it cool. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! DO NOT PUT COLD WATER IN A HOT BOILER.

5 - once the boiler is cool, refill it and run it again for a day or so.

6 - do steps 4 and 5 again.

7 - i can keep doing this until the water is clean. once it is clean, then add the "boiler colloid liquid anti-rust boiler cleaner" through the same relief valve. that stuff stays in the boiler.

there's currently some green water in the boiler that petro put in when they did their yearly "maintenence". i understand that this is also a cleanser, but it's made to stay in the boiler. basically, it seems like their's is an inferior solution to clean a boiler, but the method above requires a person to do the work over days, which petro wouldn't do (or would need to charge a lot to anyway). Will the chemicals in the "green water" react poorly with the stuff I'm putting in?

THANKS for any help/comments you can give.

Bruce

nicholas bonham-carter

cleanliness next to godliness?

in steam boilers it is!
if you know how ,when cooking spaghetti, the water in the pot is boiling nicely, and not jumping out. shortly after you put the pasta and olive oil in the water, the boiling becomes more unstable; and unless you reduce the heat, it boils over making a mess.
i believe you want clean water with no additives [unless for Ph only].be careful of well water as it may contain chlorides.
some mfgs will suggest using arm & hammer washing soda after installation prior to skimming; but it is drained out in the end.
check the manual that came with your boiler to see the mfgs instructions on this or consult dan's book..--nbc