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Avoiding shock while washing boiler

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mookie3333
mookie3333 Member Posts: 83
edited October 2016 in Strictly Steam
After firing the boiler this season, I had a very dirty sight glass, and rusty water. I Fired for about an hour, let it sit overnight to cool down, and drained the dirty, cool, water while overriding the auto water feeder with makeup water to wash out as much of the rust as I could. Filled to half of the sight glass, and added some steam master tablets, fired for another hour. Water is VERY dirty again. Boiler has been off for about 3 hours, but of course the water is still very hot.

How long should I let this water cool before draining, and refilling with cool fresh water, and firing again? Want to avoid shocking the boiler. Thanks.


EDIT: on an unrelated (well, somewhat related) issue, I was trying to clock the gas meter to find the firing rate of my boiler. Meter is VERY jumpy - both dials , 1/2 cf and 2 cf will stick 1-2x during one rotation, and then jump ahead. Is this normal? Or is something messed up? Can I clock accurately this way? Naturally I didn't clock one cycle, rather 4-5 cycles, then divided for the average. Is my meter ripping me off? Does it need to be changed? Thanks.

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  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,865
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    You should be able to comfortably touch the cast iron in the areas where the pipes connect, before refilling it.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • mookie3333
    mookie3333 Member Posts: 83
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    Got it. Thanks guys. refilled, then boiled immediately for an hour. Water in the glass was VERY muddy, looked like I didn't rinse or wash anything out at all. Today, 24 hours later, glass looks clearer, but still a hint brownish. Am I doing something wrong??

    I bought all the parts to rig up a washing rod like Gerry Gill showed, but don't really know where I could insert it on the Megasteam. Back has some bigger plugs, but not too much clearance between the back and the basement wall, and who knows what it would be like to loosen one of them. I could pop off the LWCO and use that 3/4" tapping, but I seem to recall an obstruction like 3" or so into the opening - won't be able to push the rod far enough.
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    Do you have a skim port you can run the wash rod into?

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