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ph level in steam and h20 boilers

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bo ramsour
bo ramsour Member Posts: 6
in Strictly Steam
hi

 in Dan's we got steam book he talks about the ph level in boilers i have never ever tested the ph level in a boiler so i bought some test strips and tested my residential boiler . and it was 6.8  which i think is alkaline

 what should the actual ph level be in a steam or  h2o residential  system?

 also Dan talks about adding vineger on page 46 of his  book

 . but how much vineger do u add? i by  the btu rating of the boiler? of the gallonage of the system

  thank you  bo ramsour , lakewood , colo

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  • Jean-David Beyer
    Jean-David Beyer Member Posts: 2,666
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    pH

    Actually, pH 6.8 is very slightly acidic. But pH paper is not all that accurate.



    Technically, pH 7 is neutral. Less than that is acidic, and greater than that is basic.
  • Rod
    Rod Posts: 2,067
    edited July 2011
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    PH in Steam Boilers

    Hi - As JDB said  7 is considered neutral. (I've attached a PH scale/explanation below - Note the numbers are logarithmic)  Generally for steel /iron boilers (not aluminum!) the more alkaline the water is the less chance of corrosion. In Dan's book ,"The Lost Art of Steam Heating" P 281- 282, he mentions that "Weil McLain recommends you keep the PH in their boilers between 7.5 and 8.5". You can use sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) to increase PH.  Rhomar Water  http://www.rhomarwater.com/products/residential-steam-system/   has some good products that will do this and also protect your boiler.

    - Rod
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