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Can I use this Hercules product to clean Crown Steam Boiler

melo
melo Member Posts: 43
Hi,

I want to do some maintenance on my crown steam boiler. My house has all radiators and all steam. I see that my local Home Depot sells Hercules product for boiler cleaning. When I read further into it, seems like it's meant more for water heaters? However, I'm pretty sure my maintenance guy used this exact one before.

Can I use this? Also, do I pour the whole thing in? Thank you

Link to boiler cleaner: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hercules-32-oz-Heating-System-and-Boiler-Cleaner-with-Silicone-35206/100207068

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,695
    Your boiler doesn't need any cleaning products. Just run it a bit to get things stirred up from boiling and then drain a few gallons from the lowest drain it has until it runs clear. You only have to do that once every year or three.

    If you can also drain a little off of the wet returns, that is good also (again only every year or 3), but a lot of returns don't have valves.

    Is there some reason you have an urge to clean your boiler?
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • Chris_L
    Chris_L Member Posts: 336
    Yes, you can use that in your steam boiler. I use it in my two boilers.

    I use it in place of Steamaster tablets. I stopped using Steamaster because I was getting a lot of kettling (snap, crackle, and pop as the water started to boil.) This stuff took care of the problem so I never went back.

    The instructions tell you how much to use base on the EDR of your boiler or boiler water content. It works out to about 3 tablespoons per gallon.

  • Iamgally
    Iamgally Member Posts: 2
    I service boilers and we use rust x as a general maintenance additive usually when boilers get older. Nothing wrong with it and I haven't heard of it ruining warranty. Add squick/steam clean when surging. I would flush more often just for fact that boilers drain doesn't get clogged. That is a bad day when you have to do service. Haven't had to but I heard to use vinegar to drop ph level which Will help surging and corrosion. You'll need to test your ph level first 
    ethicalpaul
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 2,762
    If the water is muddy it is a sign of steam leaks . Solids or minerals left behind after the water is boiled off and lost out of the system . Look for steam leaks and repair to make it a closed system again . Draining and flushing is needed to remove .

    Oil floating on the surface can be removed by skimming . Draining the water from the surface area .
    I have enough experience to know , that I dont know it all
    ethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,695
    edited December 2022
    I agree with Big Ed, muddy or brown water means you are getting corrosion. Not really unexpected but it can be greatly reduced by keeping your PH at 10 or 11. I use 8-way but I'll have to check out Hercules to see what that has in it, it might be fine too.

    Dropping the PH level will not help surging. Do not add an acid like vinegar to your boiler unless you want it to rot out faster. I've had my PH at 13 or 14 (it was likely even higher--the paper tests max out there) with no surging at all:

    https://youtu.be/_JFfO_VgvNQ

    Skimming is always better than Squick and friends, although I did find Squick does encapsulate oil, there's just no need for it unless you absolutely, positively, can't skim:

    https://youtu.be/Q0CkJUr0JRY

    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    Long Beach Ed