Salt in steam boiler

acl10

What would happen if I added salt to the water in the boiler to make it boil faster.

Hap_Hazzard

You'd be disappointed.

Salt (NaCl) raises the boiling point of water. Considering how corrosive seawater is even when cold, I can imagine how destructive it would be when heated.

nicholas bonham-carter

graphitic corrosion

salt could also contribute to graphitic corrosion of the boiler sections as could the use of water-softened water as a feed source.

some localities unfortunately have well water which is high in chlorides which can cause the same unhappy result.

if you want a faster boil on your system, then make sure your burner is well adjusted, and keep your pressure low.--nbc

Abracadabra

what?

salt will not make water boil faster.  Not sure where you got that.







Salt will elevate the temperature required for water to boil, ie. depending on the concentration, instead of boiling at 212, it will boil at 220.

Dave in QCA

Did you say you wanted to buy a new boiler??

If you put salt in you boiler, even in the smallest of concentration, you could pretty much guarantee that you will be buying a boiler in a year or two.  Salt, along with the boiler action of water and the very high temperatures of the cast iron above the water line would be a an excellent way to destroy a cast iron boiler.  The only other method that I could think of that would be more effective in destroying a boiler would be dry firing it until its cherry red, then suddenly filling it with water.  CRACK!!

Jamie Hall

Uh... no.

Salt will make the water boil at a higher temperature, and hence slower, not faster



Salt will corrode the dickens out of your boiler.

gerry gill

what would happen?

You would be getting a new boiler in short order...but your heating guy would like you.