Check pH and additive

John Boyer

hi all,

my steam boiler water is looking pretty brown. Is the pH needing adjustment? If so,
-Is there a good way to accurately check pH that’s not crazy expensive? What pH is best?

-Do I check it at the lwco when it’s hot or at room temp?

- would you recommend any additives?

thanks!

EBEBRATT-Ed

How often and how much water do you have to add?

If your chasing leaks by adding water that is bad for the boiler.

If not I would pick a warm day and drain and flush and drain and flush until it cleans up. Then refill and bring it to a boil.

You can get PH strips at a drug store I think or on line.

Others will comment on additive.

HeatingHelp.com

https://youtu.be/1wCVk0iGCPE?si=f97YSfTaY0jVN25U

nate379

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1872374#Comment_1872374

I watched a video the other day that the boiler failed from a small steam leak upstairs in a radiator. The auto refill kept introducing new oxygen rich water into the system. Over time it corroded through and would blow clouds of steam out the chimney when it fired.

The guy recommended not allowing the auto refill to work and instead checking on it every week or two as the leak would have been noticed in time to fix it otherwise. Just even walking by to grab the laundry or canned goods in the cellar "checking" on it.

John Boyer

While hot I open the lwco valve every week to clean it out and make sure it works. So I’m adding water every week. As I understand, you want to get that sediment out of the lwco or it can get gummed up and fail to work.

109A_5

With the pH higher than normal water the rusting will probably be reduced and the LWCO draining intervals can probably be extended.