Adding Cleaner to Boiler

nickr

I’m trying to add Dry Steam cleaner/conditioner to my Utica steam boiler, but I don’t see any viable access point for pouring it into the boiler. Any suggestions on how to do this?

davidsorkin

You could temporarily remove the temperature and pressure overflow and pour it in there. Why do you want to do this? It might be better not to.

nickr

One of the radiators isn’t heating and I suspect it’s because of crud buildup, so I want to try this before monkeying with the supply valve. And it’s been a while since the system was cleaned.

KC_Jones

nickr said:

One of the radiators isn’t heating and I suspect it’s because of crud buildup, so I want to try this before monkeying with the supply valve. And it’s been a while since the system was cleaned.

Putting cleaner in the boiler does nothing for a radiator. The boiler sends steam only, basically distilled water, out into the system. Everything is getting steam cleaned on each cycle, so with exception of wet returns, steam systems actually stay quite clean if all the pipe pitch is correct.

If this is a one pipe steam system I would suspect a bad vent on the radiator. If it's 2 pipe I would suspect a bad trap somewhere in the system.

davidsorkin

Try changing the air vent first. I used to use stuff like this and even plumbed in a port but eventually decided it is snake oil.

nickr

It’s one-pipe. The (newish) varivent was full of water when I checked it. I blew it clear and reinstalled and the nonheating persisted. Local plumbing supply guy told me that’s an indication that the radiator’s return is compromised somehow.

KC_Jones

nickr said:

It’s one-pipe. The (newish) varivent was full of water when I checked it. I blew it clear and reinstalled and the nonheating persisted. Local plumbing supply guy told me that’s an indication that the radiator’s return is compromised somehow.

The return and supply are one in the same. If you've got a plugged up pipe, then yes that needs fixed, but it's an indicator of something else wrong, like poor pipe pitch. As stated, steam carrying pipes don't corrode or sludge up at all when all the pitch is correct. The only way to clear those pipes is to flush them directly, or open them up. There isn't a cleaner that's going to work from the boiler.

How long have you been in the house? Is this a new problem?

EBEBRATT-Ed

@nickr. First thing is to check the pitch of the radiator. It should be pitched back toward the valve on a 1 pipe system. And check the pitch on the pipes leading to the rad they should all pitch up from the steam main.

ChrisJ

The piping on that boiler looks very questionable.    Can you show us more of it?

reggi

ChrisJ said:

The piping on that boiler looks very questionable.    Can you show us more of it?

It looks a bit gunked up also... 
Do you know how to flush this system ?
Might be a lack of maintenance issue..