Skimming port

Steaming101

Hi I'm new to this blog. I have a BurHam IN gas fired steam boiler one pipe heating system. My boiler doesn't seem to have a skimming port I provided a few pics of my boiler. I want to know how often should skimming be done and can anyone describe what steps I need follow? And if I don't see a skimming port where should it be located? https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/editor/f0/398mhp4dkbe2.jpg
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Fred

The skim port should be where that panel knock-out is about the center of the panel and just below the pressure relief valve. It probably is plugged behind the knock-out. Clearly is was never installed. If you tap that knock-out out, you may be able to remove the plug (Big Maybe) and install a nipple and a brass ball value. Your other option, when you need to skim is to remove the pressure relief valve and the elbow it is installed on and use that port to skim. When you finish skimming reinstall the elbow and valve. You need to skim whenever you have any piping work done as that will introduce new oils into the boiler or whenever you see the water in the sight glass bounce excessively (more that a half inch or so). That is an indication the water probably has oil in it. It may take several very slow skims to get it all out but is is necessary. BTY, I also use the Pressure Relief port to skim my boiler as it never had a skim port installed. It too is a Burnham.

BobC

Atmospheric steam boilers are very susceptible to corrosion cause by the oxygen in added fresh water. Keep careful note of any water that has to be added to the boiler. If water has to be added more than once a month it's important to find and fix any leaks in the system. Too much fresh water shortens the life of boilers. Make sure you make steam right after adding fresh water to drive off any oxygen.

After you install a skim port and skim the boiler you should consider adding something to raise the PH of the water to about 9 to forestall corrosion in the boiler and keep a watch on any water you have to add.

Bob

j a_2

Bob Thats good advice….I do not like water feeders…I will only install them in special cases….They are not automatic water feeders, they just cover up problems….If and when i did install them they had a meter attached or a inner counter...

Steaming101

tks for all the replies! So I'll do the skimming than I should produce steam, I'm I reading this correctly? Also I shouldn't have the automatic water feeder on?

BobC

Run the boiler up to steam anytime fresh water is added.

I would turn the auto feeder off unless you leave the house for several days. This way you will be able to see if the water level drops. Make sure you inspect the boiler 3 or 4 times a week.

Bob

Steaming101

When you skim the boiler should the boiler be on or off? And also should this boiler be service at least once a year?

Steaming101

Fred when you use the pressure relief valve to skim your boiler do you hook anything to the port (hose) or do you let the water just drip into a bucket? Tks for your help

Inmar

Fred

You want the boiler water to be hot but not boiling. I usually let my boiler run through a heating cycle and then shut the power off so that it can't come back on. After I am sure there is no more steam in the system, I then remove the pressure relief valve and elbow and connect a 6" nipple with a full port shut off valve on the end of it so I can close it if necessary. Slowly fill the boiler with water (using your regular manual feed) until the water starts to trickle out of that port you installed. Adjust you supply water down. You want to let it trickle very slowly (some suggest a stream no larger than the diameter of a pencil) I find i get the best results with an even slower trickle (as slow as you can go while maintaining a steady stream). This keeps turbulance inside the boiler to a minimum so that the oils stay on the surface of the water and flow out. Once I get the trickle the way I want it, I attach a garden hose to the end of the ball valve and run it to a floor drain. Because the trickle is so slow, it will take a while for you to see any water running out of the hose but be patient. I usually let mine run that way for 5 to 6 hours. If it's not to cold outside, I may even let it run through the night that way and put things back together when I get up the next morning. After you have the pressure relief valve back on, lower the water in the boiler back down to its normal level and fire the boiler up to allow it to burn off the excess oxygen from the fresh water in the boiler.The idea, when skimming, is for the water to be hot and you'll be surprised that it will still be warm in the morning.