Water softener

Doester

Hi all, we are installing a water softener in our house and I am wondering if I should use softened water or not in my steam boiler. Our water is really hard (13 grains). I think the previous owners had softener but took it with them. My system doesn’t lose water, but I do blow it down weekly. Thanks!!

Jamie Hall

Do NOT use softened water in the boiler. It's remarkably corrosive. If you use about a gallon a week, you should be OK so far as scaling or whatever.

Doester

Thanks Jamie!!!

hot_rod

more reading on the topic of hard water. Having the water analyzed would also be a good step.


https://www.hpac.com/heating/article/20927359/how-to-prevent-steamboiler-failure

Hap_Hazzard

Good advice. Until you know what you're dealing with, you can't tell what kind of remediation, if any, would be appropriate. But it goes without saying that your standard household ion-exchange water softener would never be appropriate. Microfiltration might be.

hot_rod

Lots of opinions on Ion exchange water for steam boilers.

I suspect type of boiler, hardness of the water, how much water is added, and other factors need to be looked at.

https://www.miuraboiler.com/how-are-water-softeners-used-in-steam-boilers/