Draining Steam Boiler

tron_

Hello,

I recently bought a home with a steam boiler and I have been trying my best to learn as much as I can about how these boilers work and the proper maintenance they need. I am trying to figure out how to drain my boiler (it is a Utica boiler, not sure of the exact model as I'm not officially moved in yet).

The boiler has an automatic feeder and a low water cutoff. The water in the sight glass appears too high and is pretty brown and I am planning to drain the boiler once a month.

When it comes to draining the boiler, I'm a little confused on the exact steps. Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

1. Attach hose/bucket to boiler drain
2. Drain boiler until LWCO light turns on (indicating boiler has been drained)
3. Repeat 1x every month until water in the boiler is clean

Is this correct? Do I need to turn the boiler off before draining? Should I crank my thermostat up before doing this procedure? Thank you in advance for your help!

Jamie Hall

What type of low water cutoff? (model no. or picture would help). If it's the float type, you blow it down from a valve attached to the bottom of the float chamber. Once a week, more or less. If it's the probe type, there is no need to blow the boiler down at all -- once a year, maybe.

ethicalpaul

Don't drain it monthly. Don't even drain it yearly. Keep the PH above 9 and you won't have brown water any more. Listen to Jamie regarding the LWCO

hadeone

How do you guys keep the ph above 9?  

EBEBRATT-Ed

With ph test strips usually available at a drug store. Test the PH and we can tell you what to add.

I would drain the LWCO if it is a float type as @Jamie Hall explained. If it is a probe type it should be removed and the probe cleaned once a year.

Try the boiler drain valve to see if it will open, if not leave it alone for now. It should be opened 1 or 2 times /year to exercise the valve.

If you water level is high drain enough through the drain valve or low water cut off to get the water down to 1/2 a glass or the normal water level if marked on the boiler.

Then keep an eye on the water level. If it keeps going high the feeder or low water cut off or manual feed valve could be defective.

If it keeps going high shut the make-up water off manually and feed it manually when it needs water and check the water level every few days. More often when the weather is cold

hadeone

Thank you.  I’ll investigate my LWCO.  I already monitor and add water manually.  Ever since I replaced a defective vent water loss went down significantly.  The valves on the boiler and the return work, i drained the water from both at the end of last season and refilled.  

Ill get the strips and report back.  

ethicalpaul

I raise my PH with Rectorseal's 8-way product. There are a lot of similar products out there, but this one is reasonably priced an easy-to-use liquid, and doesn't cause harm like some of them (cough cough Surge-X)