water treatment chemicals

rhmetz

What is the best water treatment chemical to use in a Peerless home steam boiler 500,000 btu size?

nicholas bonham-carter

chemicals for peerless

i use boiled water in my 211a. 1,050,000 btu.

when installed, the boiler was cleaned and skimmed, with the help of arm&hammer washing soda, as per peerless instructions, and that is the only chemical ever put in this fine boiler.

under certain conditions [pH wrong, etc.], you may use products specifically designed for a certain purpose, from rhomar.

if you are having a specific problem, please describe it here and the combined total of several hundred years of steam experience will help find a solution.--nbc

Rod

Boiler Water

Hi- I also have a Peerless and just use regular water with no additives. I do, however, use a Rhomar product when the boiler is idle during the summer months. Rhomar are good people to work with so if you have a specific concern give them a call.

- Rod

 http://www.rhomarwater.com/products/residential-steam-system/

ttekushan_3

water treatment

My recommendations for water treatment are based on the characteristics on your water supply. In NE Ohio, I see a lot of boiler scale that dramatically decreases the steam output of an old boiler, wasting tremendous energy. Many steam heating systems are inefficient because of this condition. Chemical descaling takes care of it. Preventing the buildup is a better choice. If your water is not very hard, you probably don't want to use anything, as using too much (increasing your pH or over-basing) can cause foaming.



Attached is a hardness map of the U.S. I picked it up from somewhere on the net but can't remember where. I'm sure it's still accurate.

Rod

Interesting Map!

Very interesting! Thanks for the map! I always thought it was only the South West that had hardness problems.

- Rod

FJL

How to interpret that map

Is a high number or low number "hard" water"?

Dave in QCA

Higher number is harder

The map shows PPM CaCO3, or parts per million of Calcium Carbonate, also known as lime.  Thus the higher the number, the more dissolved lime in the water.

The map is based on generalities, and cannont be assumed to be accurate for every locationg.  Here in the Quad Cities, even thought the map shows very high hardness, we actually have great water conditions.  Our water comes from the Mississippi river instead of wells, and thus is not very hard.