Third steam boiler in 18 years

NormanC

Great timing, I just got the water analysis today. It doesn't provide everything you asked about but there's probably some info here

New England SteamWorks

By comparison, chlorides in New Haven are 30, Worcester 31, & Providence 20.5.

Larry_52

The chlorides you are seeing is mainly from sodium. Your water is moderately hard. That conductivity seems high in comparison to the measured dissolved solids, its like they missed something attributing to the high conductivity. I would follow the advice of piping changes and adding a demineralizer in the makeup line. Add either soda ash or caustic to raise boiler ph to 10.5; you can also use steam master tablets from rector seal.

Every time you add water you are compounding the dissolved solids in the boiler. The chlorides will cycle up into a danger area in no time, an unstable water gauge glass would be symptomatic of this. By itself the water is fair but in short time you will be a bad place. To break the chain, add the demineralizer and add alkalinity treatment.

RomanGK_26986764589

Would it be a good idea to add distilled water as a make up water to keep TDS at bay? Since adding regular tap or well water would only add more dissolved solids into the water. Distilled water would just dissolve already existing TDS

Larry_52

The only way to remove TDS is through blowdown of boiler. Making up with demineralized water to boiler with high TDS and a system loss through steam or condensate side would equal no change in boiler TDS. It wouldn't get any worse though.

You cannot dissolve TDS because the solids are already dissolved (total dissolved solids).

If you were to blow down or skim the boiler and makeup the water with demin then yes you will reduce the TDS / chlorides.

Few things about demin water to note, in contact with air it will absorb gas like a sponge (becomes acidic from CO2), does not eliminate oxygen actually absorbs if open to atmosphere, should be optimally added to boilers through closed feed systems and should be used in conjunction with an OH alkalinity additive to boiler like soda ash, calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide ( my choice) at pH of 10 to 10.5.

With the pH raised all CO2 will convert to carbonate CO3 and become harmless. So demin water in air added to a boiler with enough alkalinity is OK but not optimal.

EBEBRATT-Ed

That's good information@Larry

Jason_13

The chlorides are cumulative. If Chlorides are coming in at 173 PPM every time you add water you are increasing the ppm in the boiler.
The water sample which needs to be tested is the boiler water not faucet water. Run the boiler for a minute or two and draw water from a boiler drain after flushing about 30 seconds. Then get it tested.
Most steam boiler block failures are water related. I don't even use water from a water softner in a steam boiler.
PH per the Independence manual 7 - 11