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HB Smith forced hot water boiler leaking at bottom

DebraAnnII
DebraAnnII Member Posts: 3
in Oil Heating

Hi All! 1986 HB boiler leaking in between sections 2 and 3. I’ve used Hercules high heat furnace cement put in July. It has started leaking in December again. Now I’m hearing gurgling in the system, and trying to reseal it. The sealant showed water weeping behind it. Flicked off, and water is dripping now. Talked to Hercules makers, and they recommended putting sealant inside the system. This is all a temporary fix. What I’m worried about is how it will affect my copper lines going throughout the house. One, should I use this product without,, is there an exterior application product that I could use?

Comments

  • DebraAnnII
    DebraAnnII Member Posts: 3

    * should I use this product, or do I have to worry about it affecting my copper piping throughout the house?

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,145

    It could plug up something that isn't supposed to be plugged but that isn't all that likely. Obviously this is just a temporary fix until you can replace the boiler.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,847

    You can put leak seal inside the boiler but do not put furnace cement in the boiler. Hercules makes leak seal.

    mattmia2
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,512
    edited January 14

    You put a bandaid on in July now it’s an emergency?

    Should have started the replacement work in July.

    mattmia2
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,717

    Any application of an external material will not work. The only think that will work is a sealant that you add to the water so it plugs the opening from the inside and will be held in place by the internal pressure exerted outward on the leak.

    As far as residual leak sealing compound left behind and causing damage to other sections of the system and possible damage to the new boiler in the future, that is unlikely. Just be sure to install a Y strainer or other filtering device on the inlet side of the new boiler to collect anything that may contaminate the system, and flush the system a few times with clean water before filling the boiler. That may require some repiping on the new boiler in order to do a good system flush. If I can see pictures of your existing near boiler piping I can make sone suggestions of a well designed piping system to accomplish this goal.

    Edward Young Retired

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

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