Rust in five year old boiler

bruce_21

I went to check out a no heat call and found all this rust in the chamber. What is doing this? I've seen plenty of boilers that won't go from soot, but this is the cast iron rusting away and the unit is only five years old.

Charlie from wmass

could be a few things

Nasty oil fron an old tank, really back combustion air ( are there appliances not venting in the same room?) Plain damp nasty air in the basement. Maybe a leak in the sections? Has the unit been serviced for the past 5 years? Really low return temps causing condensing in the boiler? Bypass or primary secondary piping may be called for.

bruce_21

more details on rusty boiler

Its a steam boiler, return piping is short but not insulated. There is an outside combustion air kit on it. There is a washer and dryer which vents to the outside about 15 feet away and a gas water heater venting into the same chimney (which is in the center of the house).

Al Letellier_21

Rusting boiler

From your photo, I see the bottom valve of a sight glass, so I assume it's a steamer. Check this boiler out very carefully. The color can indicate overheating or a leak above the water line. Fill it up and look for a leak. Are the vents OK? Is the boiler adding a lot of water? ( a plug here for the HydroLevel VXT-120....it will tell you how much water is being added.

Could be from the oil but looks like a possible leaker......check it out thoroughly.

Ron Jr._3

I agree with Al

I'd assume it might be an internal water leak .

World Plumber

"O" Rings

Looks like another Weil Mclain, I have 9 out of 11 that seep when they get cold. And do they have the excuses as to why it leaks.