draining boiler

turbobike

I have a Weil-Mclain steam boiler w/a 2 pipe system. A few yrs ago, i added a hot water line off the boiler to heat a converted garage that had no heat. I go thru at least 1 Taco cartridge per season (but that's another story). I recently needed to change the cartridge, and proceeded to drain the boiler down (as he who installed the Taco pump did not install isolation valves). My problem is that the boiler WON"Tt drain. Do I need to open up a radiator to allow some air in the system in order to get it to drain, or do I have a serious sludge problem which is preventing the water from draining? I don't recall having this problem last heating season.

turbobike

draining boiler

additional note to my post above......

I replaced all of my radiator steam traps this summer as they were 30+ yrs old and radiators were heating unevenly last season.

Jamie Hall

eh?

could use perhaps a little more description of the piping set up?  Does the hot water line come from the boiler direct, or does it come from the return before the Hartford Loop?  If it comes from the boiler direct at a low level, a) it certainly should drain the boiler unless it either has a closed valve on it or it is solidly plugged with gloop. and b) it is a serious hazard, as if it did decide to leak, it could drain the boiler dry... which is what the Hartford Loop is designed to prevent.



Assuming that you have vents on your system, the vents will let in all the air needed to drain a boiler, if there is a way for the water to get out...



So...



A little more description on the piping layout, please?

turbobike

draining boiler

hot water line is piped off the base of the boiler. 

 I'm thinking it's major sludge. 

 I wonder if I attach a garden hose to drain--providing a reverse flow--if it would loosen up the crud enough to get it flowing.  . 

Jamie Hall

Probably...

the garden hose trick should work.  If that is off the base of the boiler, and the boiler doesn't have a real big drain to allow it to clear, wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was pretty solidly glooped up and blowing it back with a hose should clear it (for the moment...).



I don't suppose there's any way to repipe the take off from the boiler so that it's at a higher level?  A handy plug somewhere farther up the side, somewhere?  Might be worth looking for; that way you'd be getting much cleaner water through that whole loop.  Might make the Taco last a bit longer, and provide a chance to put in isolation valves at the same time.  And reduce the chance of major problems if the loop sprung a leak...

Charlie from wmass

B&G 100 Bronze

That is the circulator you need. Yes they cost a lot more than a 007 but what is your time worth? A wye strainer also helps extend pump life and give a place to remove the sludge. The water feed to the circulator should be from a port up higher yet below the waterline. If the boiler is a SGO the tapping is U1 in the owners manual. If you have a different model I can look that up for you also.

turbobike

new development

I "cracked" the circulator connection where it bolts to the volute & was able to drain down the hot water line, and then replace the Taco cartridge. Bolted back together & filled & bled the line. Fired up the furnace turned on the Taco. It's moving hot water nicely.

So, I must assume that sludge is not the problem.

Does this make the main vent "suspect" ? Doesn't there have to be an open source of air above the water in order for it to drain ?