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Gwa hot water boiler/percolating/need opinion

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Turboolds
Turboolds Member Posts: 6
in THE MAIN WALL
I have a 7yr old gwa gas hot water boiler that as soon as it fires up it starts to percolate and you hear it in the chimney vent and it is pretty annoying. What is the best way to flush the boiler heat exchanger?

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  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
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    What make and model boiler?
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • Turboolds
    Turboolds Member Posts: 6
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    Gwa 140
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,131
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    Often time a mouse like that is caused by hard water scale. Does it gave an Autofill valve? No leaks I’m in the system allowing fresh water intake?

    A cleaning and inhibitor is a good step for any boiler Rhomar and Fernox have easy to use aerosol cans. First add the cleaner, run, flush, refill and add conditioner.

    Purge connections and a good, working air purger Should be part of the plan
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Turboolds
    Turboolds Member Posts: 6
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    Ok the aerosol one, how does that get entered into the system? I have a autofill valve, had some issues with air in 2nd flr baseboard, so i kinda refilled system a few times, and also changed an expansion tank last year. So i have definetely added fresh water few times.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,131
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    What is the hardness of the water you are filling with? Most boiler manufacturers gave water spec in the manuals. Hard water or high TDS water should be filtered or treated, ideally

    The aerosol cans have a female garden hose fitting. So screw it onto a boiler drain open the valve and pull the trigger. Scaled boilers sounds but different from air bubbles. More like a pop or rumbling sound. Not unlike a tea kettle that has scale deposits layered on the bottom
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Turboolds
    Turboolds Member Posts: 6
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    Yeah definitely sounds like not boiling sound, but more a popping and steam sound
  • Turboolds
    Turboolds Member Posts: 6
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    Hey as far as the procedure to descale using aerosol, just drain the entire system or just boiler? Valve off the feed to baseboard and returns, correct?
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,131
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    After the cleaner is use, the entire system should flush to remove gunk that the cleaner has loosened up The cleaner will be working in the pipes and radiators, not just the boiler, when it circulates
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,832
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    Is this the boiler you are talking about?

    https://www.williamson-thermoflo.com/products/williamson/gwa-gas-water-atmospheric
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Turboolds
    Turboolds Member Posts: 6
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    Yes thats the one/140 natural gas
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
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    Percolation in 7 year old boiler? That would indicate that copious amounts of fresh water have been added which would be indicative of long term leaks on the system.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.

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