Water Softener for Boiler feed

Dan Pollock

We have hard water in our area I was just wondering if it is a good idea to add a water softener to the boiler....this is a system opperating a Hotel....40 + rooms
Thanks

Frank_17

h2o softener

Yes not only a good idea for the bouiler , but all the domestic water.take a sample at water entrance get it tested at a lab and SIZE the softener. not all softeners are the same and do the same job . the ready packages at Home depot or sears may not do the job. GET IT SIZED

eric_2

I've always wondered

how the Big Orange box justifies selling softner systems without testing the water. Just how do you know what size softner is required or if a softner is required at all?
Obviously the sale and not taking care of the problem is all that's important. I'll have to stop in and inquire about one just to see what they tell me to set the unit at as far as hardness goes. Could use a good laugh on a rainy Friday.

Tony Conner

Is This...

... a straight building heating application? Assuming it's steam, if you get all of the condensate back that you send out as steam, then you don't need a water softener. The only time it matters is if some steam is used for something like humidification, or a process that is direct contact heating. That steam goes out, and never comes back, by design. It has to be replaced with make up water, and a softener will likely help with scale deposits, in that situation (not always, some area have naturally soft water, or close to it), but it won't do anything for corrosion due to dissolved oxygen. If it's a straight forward steam system in which all of the condensate should come back, but doesn't due to leaks, or failed condenate pumps, then they have to be fixed.

If it's a hot water heating system, then you shouldn't need a softener. If you have so much make-up that scale is a problem, then you have mechanical problems that need to be dealt with at the source. A softener will only be a bandaid. And again, it won't stop oxygen corrosion.