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Steam Heater - Pipes and Heater is rust on new Boiler

Lordofthering
Lordofthering Member Posts: 16
in A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration

We installed new Steam boiler after previous boiler went bad two years ago and now I am seeing pipe and boiler itself is rusting which we have never seen before.

This boiler has mix of piping. Some pipes are Copper and some pipes are

galvanized.

Please see attached picture with actual problem in pipes.

Could this issue due to flux used for soldering nearby pipes for steam heater which was installed two years ago ? Please advise me what to do so this type of issue never occur.

Thanks in Advance.

Boiler_Rust1.jpeg
Pipe_rust1.jpeg
Rust3.jpeg

Comments

  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,825

    That pipe is leaking, or has been leaking for some time in the past. The pipe needs to be replaced and sealed up properly when replaced so it doesn't leak going forward.

    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
    ethicalpaul
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,693

    Copper? Galvanized? Neither one is suitable for steam. And they don't play well together. Steam is piped in threaded black iron. Period. Nothing else.

    Is the piping arrangement even close to what the manufacturer of the boiler called for?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,271
    edited November 4

    please post some pictures from a little further away, showing all the piping at the top of the boiler.

    Front, left side, right side

  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,199

    Is this a slant fin boiler? What is the manufacturer date on the boiler? How long ago did Slant Fin close its doors?

    ethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,520

    That boiler sure doesn't look 2 years old!

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,257
    edited November 4

    Someone did not tighten that pipe into the boiler with proper pipe sealant. Then no one noticed it for some time. then Steam and hot water leaked out during that time. When water and metal get together they like to play that Rust Game thing, You know. Technically it is called oxidation. You can clean that stuff up with with a wire brush and perhaps some matching paint. But you should really think about fixing the leak first.

    And as far as pictyres of heaters are concerned, you should think about what @pecmsg said above. Can you tell me anything about what is wrong with this car by these two pictures? Make? Model? How much tire pressure is recommended?

    Screenshot 2024-11-04 at 2.01.03 PM.png

    I can tell you it is painted white! and the transmission had overdrive But what spark plug do I need?

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    Lordofthering
  • Lordofthering
    Lordofthering Member Posts: 16
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1818035#Comment_1818035

    I have both. Near pipes are copper and far pipes are galvanized. It is Slant Fin Steam heater. One of the photo does have leak which I came to know yesterday so first thing, I will get it fixed but white stuff on boiler pipe has puzzled me am I having such problem ? I have never seen anything like happening to any of my steam boiler happening. I own quite a few rental with steam boilers.

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