Hydrotherm HC 85 straps

justkikn

Boiler never was maintained.  Opened covers and there are two steel straps wrapped around the boiler heat exchanger and base.  I checked parts diagrams and no straps there, so I assume they were there for shipping purposes.  Can someone confirm they aren’t needed?

EdTheHeaterMan

You are exactly right, Unless your home is mobile and you plan on a cross country trip, you can remove those straps. I believe they hold the Flue collector box in place. there should also be some nuts or bolts that will hold that collector box in place after the maintenance is complete. Just look for the gasket (sometimes a rope) and if you can't get it to seal properly, just use furnace cement. (that might happen after years of maintenance)

EBEBRATT-Ed

They need to be there when the boiler is moved. Once it is installed the boiler just sits on the base.

justkikn

Since I needed to remove the straps I believe it’s the first time it was cleaned.  I used brushes, blower and vacuum to clean it up. I used flat gasket good for 2000 F, and used a light to check for seal.  Is there a better way to check for leaks?   There shouldn’t be much pressure there since it’s open to the flue but thought I would ask.  

EBEBRATT-Ed

I am assuming the is a negative draft flue. No not really any way to check it other than inspecting the seal with a light

EdTheHeaterMan

You did good, is this a customer or a DIY? if you are going to do this regularly, (every 3 to 5 years) and check the chimney draft periodically (two to three times a season) then you don't need to worry about leakage. If there is a leak, it will be boiler room air leaking into the flue collector because the chimney draft will be causing a low pressure inside the flue pipe. Where this might be a problem is if your house is under a negative pressure from too many exhaust fans (Clothes Dryer, Bathroom Fans, Kitchen Range Hood or Whole House Fan) on a well sealed structure. If there is no infiltration for air to leak into the home, then when all those fans are on sucking air out of the home, that air needs to come from somewhere. The natural draft chimney (or B-vent) is a good place for that air to enter, BUT NOT A GOOD THING FOR YOUR HOME. That is why you should check the chimney draft at the flue connector pipe on a regular basis.

Easy way to check flue draft with your heater... Light a match then blow it out and hold it neat the draft hood opening. if the smoke goes into the vent hood, you have draft. If the smoke blows away from the draft hood you have a downdraft, and you need to have that checked professionally.

justkikn

Thanks Ed, diy but I’ve got a boiler license and a refrigeration license and worked as an operating engineer and mechanic.  My bad, this was overdue.  House was only negative when I used a floor mounted portable A/C (that I’ve since sold because it made the house negative and showed at my hot water heater where cold and hot pipe sleeves melted). This experience makes me check draft often.  I use a lighter to check draft and it bends the flame so I have decent draft.  I used a Lynn gasket 1/8” thick and at the corners tapered so the overlap sat even with the rest of the gasket.  Ran the boiler thru a few cycles, no smell, no roll out and satisfies temperature quickly.  Who knows, might run more efficiently moving forward.