How to store a cast iron boiler

luna12

I have a Weil-McLain CGa-6 cast iron boiler. It is not connected to my system yet and I just did a pressure test on it. It passed. I likely won't install it until maybe June or July, so I'm wondering what would be the best way to store it until then. I've read about both wet and dry storage. Should I keep it filled with the water I just used during the pressure test and maintain a small amout of pressure in it? Or should I drain it and dry it out? Or something else?

pecmsg

if the H2O has no ox flood it

If not I’d pressurize with N2

mattmia2

note that at the factory they pressure test them, drain out what they can, then crate it up and let it sit on the shelf for months until someone buys it.

ethicalpaul

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1892692#Comment_1892692

and people call me extreme!! 😂

EdTheHeaterMan

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1892704#Comment_1892704

Perhaps you can use dry nitrogen, using a triple evacuation method to remove all the moisture, then hermetically seal it with a nitrogen charge. Then you will be sure that nothing will go wrong @pecmsg and Paul can do a Video on it.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I would get a high velocity fan and blow air through it. A handheld leaf blower will work. The friction of the air will raise the air temp which will absorb the moisture in the boiler.

We used to use this with chillers that broke/froze a tube and got water in the refrigerant to dry out the water.

luna12

The point about how they handle things at the factory is a good one. I also like the idea about speeding up evaporation with a leaf blower. I think I'll go that route.

Intplm.

Do nothing.

@luna12 What you may have read would be a way to "lay-up" your boiler [ IF ] it was in service. In my experience that would be called a "wet lay-up" meaning the boiler is filled with water till it's ready to be put back into service. Your boiler is new and not installed. Do nothing to your uninstalled boiler.

luna12

@Intplm Just for clarification. By "do nothing", do you mean just leave it full of water until I install it? Because, like I mentioned, it's currently full of water from the pressure test. Or do you mean empty it, and "do nothing" once I empty it?

pecmsg

Just to displace the O2.

Grallert

Empty it and leave it alone. You will do it no harm