flushing steam boiler

GTD

I have a Weil McLain 368st oilfired boiler, it is used for hot water and heat, how many times a year should the boiler be complety flushed. thank You Tom

BobC

Never

Never flush a steam boiler without good reason. make sure you find and fix any leak that requires you to add water more than once a month, if you have an automatic water feeder make sure it has a meter so you can monitor the water added. i would not have one on my boiler and have not had one on any boiler for 60+ years.



Fresh water brings in fresh oxygen and that can destroy boilers over time.If you do have to flush a boiler or add water to it make sure you bring the boiler up to steam right after to drive off any oxygen.



Bob

BobC

Check the water feeder pipe

If the auto feeder input pipe is cold that tells you the valve is leaking fresh water into the boiler.



Bob

Rod

Flushing a Boiler

Whether or not a boiler needs to be flushed depends a lot on the condition of the boiler water. If it ‘s very dirty then you may need to do a flushing.  Most dirt and crud collects in the low areas of the steam system which means the bottom of the boiler and in the Wet Return so these should be checked at least annually.  It’s important to “exercise” your drain valves occasionally so they are functional and don’t get clogged up. Just draining off a gallon or two of boiler water from the valves, clears them and makes sure they are functional. When adding “new” water to the boiler as Bob mentioned above, always make sure that you immediately heat that water to the boil to drive off dissolved oxygen as it can be very corrosive and shorten the life of your boiler.

- Rod

                                            

Here are some links to boiler flushing /cleaning which may be of help to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1tw9rz-pUk&list=UU7gDszI9COdVbfvJP2YdY5Q



http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/364/Boilers/145/How-to-Flush-the-Return-Lines-on-an-Old-Steam-System



http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/143078/Rinsing-the-boiler



http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/146010/Flushing-out-boiler-with-inexpensive-and-easy-tool



 

GTD

Flushing steamboiler

Thank You for the info>