First Time Steammaster user

gerry gill

Edelmans Plumbing Supply in Bedford Hts. Ohio sells steam master tablets. I just bought four jars from them.

Koan

Just finished skimming. Skim and drain water finally clear. Had 2 tablets on board. Was getting some foam and condensation running down the site glass and was short cycling on pressure at 8oz. One cold radiator at the end of one main. Now it runs for half an hour at constant 2 to 3 oz and all radiators hot. Skimming made the difference.

RomanGK_26986764589

I have been watching my boiler for the past 2 weeks since last skim session. It has no about 1/2 of a steam master pill inside. The water is not the cleanest but it steams just fine. Actually the 0-3 psi gauge was more erratic after I've done skimming a couple of weeks ago but since it has calmed down on its own, just some flutter. Interesting part though all the rust particles have attached themselves to the sight glass but the water itself appears to be clean.

Koan

Ok. Today is December 5, Made it from November 27 to now. Short cycling on pressure again . Seeing condensation running down the site glass as before. Guess it's time to skim again.

Blow down out of LWCO was rusty looking, but it was the first blow down since Nov 28. Should have blown down more but it wasn't running that much.

Was running perfectly until tonight...never above 3oz. no cycling

Anyone know how many times I have to skim before this pattern stops???

Fred

Could be a half dozen or more times. You should try what I suggested earlier in this string. Run the boiler for a while without the Steamaster tablets and see if the problem is actually oils in the water or something with the tablets. If it still needs skimming in a week por two without the tablets, then it's still oils. If there is no problem, then add one tablet and see what happens. If still no problem, then add a second tablet and see what happens. That will tell you if one tablet is a problem, if maybe two tablets are too much or if oil is still the issue.

Sailah

Just an FYI I don't plan on ordering any more steam master tablets. I wanted to take advantage of my relationship I have with a good distributor to get some for Wallies but I don't like selling products I don't manufacture. Hope you understand it was always intended to be a short term fix for this year.

I did keep a few bottles on hand, just like good Scotch, in case friends stop by....

Koan

@Sailah - next time I'm in Randolph Mass....

Koan

@Fred
thanks - good advice. I am beginning to sense that steam heat is like my old Camaro - when it runs right its great, just needs a lot of tweaking.

Sailah

Koan said:

@Sailah - next time I'm in Randolph Mass....

You would be most welcome!

RomanGK_26986764589

@Koan I skimmed once a couple of weeks ago. It's been fine for now, except for the rust particles on the sight glass. I have about 1/2 of a tablet in the boiler now.

zackwatt

RomanGK_26986764589 said:

It's been fine for now, except for the rust particles on the sight glass.

You also probably need to open the drain on the bottom of the sight glass and flush it out. My experience has been, when you drain the boiler, it doesn't flush out the sight glass passageways.

RomanGK_26986764589

@zackwatt I don't have a drain at the bottom of the sight glass. I have to disassemble it and clean it.

ChrisJ

RomanGK_26986764589 said:

@zackwatt I don't have a drain at the bottom of the sight glass. I have to disassemble it and clean it.

But..........
They all have a drain?

zackwatt

RomanGK_26986764589 said:

@zackwatt I don't have a drain at the bottom of the sight glass. I have to disassemble it and clean it.

There should be a removable plug, similar to the one in the photo on the right...

RomanGK_26986764589

Yes, I do have that plug but I wasn't comfortable touching it. It's been there for awhile.