How often change water in boiler?

SchenleySeven

The water is clear in the boiler and the wet returns. However:



1. Do the pros drain & refill the boiler and wet returns once per season? Or only the boiler? Or if things are clean just leave it alone?



2. Summer- Leave the boiler full of water end of season? Or drain the boiler and returns, then refill before firing?



Thanks.

nicholas bonham-carter

Changing baby's water

If the water is clean, then no change is required, and will introduce more rust-producing oxygen into the boiler.

If it is dirty, then give it a skimming.--nbc

FJL

What About Sediment?

What is the correct thing to do if the water is generally clear but gets muddy for a while when the sediment is disturbed? I had a tech out to look at a problem and it required filling the boiler with water and that caused sediment to be disturbed and that led to muddy water in the sight glass, but the sight glass cleared up after a while.

David Nadle

Draining sediment

I think it's good to drain the sediment out occasionally. I do it about once a month during the heating season and it ends up being about a quart each time. I would only add water when you are sure the boiler will run the same day, and I leave the old water in all summer.

FJL

Draining Sediment

How do you drain sediment?  Should there be valve at the bottom of the boiler that can be opened.  I know of the valve for skimming, so should there be a similar one at the bottom?  And you just open that an let out the dirty water?

SchenleySeven

Get the crud out

Yes. Every boiler should have a drain valve at the base. Open that (boiler cold of course) and let it blast out the crud.



My wet return has a union that I open to let the crud in it pour out, also cold of course.



Then top up the water level.