We have a problem....

Bob W._2

The service tech put two quarts of a cleaner in our big W-M steam boiler. It had been well behaved until then. Now the water in the gauge glass is moving violently and the LWCO is shutting down the boiler as the water level sinks. Both valves on the gauge glass (I think its a McDonnell Miller quick connect) are open. What is going on here? Thanks.

John@Reliable

Do you know the name of cleaner? some can be left in as a water treatment,but this sounds like boiler may need to be skimmed and flushed. It's not hard to do but takes allot of time to do it right. What does co. that did it say?

Bob W._2

He took the empties with him...

but he did say that it was made to be left in. It sure made the water muddy. He was aware of W-M's elastomeric seals so I assume it was OK for use with the boiler. Should I be concerned to let the boiler keep shutting down? I suppose it can't hurt anything. Also, theres a lot more pressure at the rad vents; you can hear it fluctuating wildly. He didn't touch the pressuretrol and we left the gas valve at its low setting. How can a cleaner make it do that?

John@Reliable

Bob,

The cleaner did it's job but now all the "stuff" that had settled on boiler water surfaces are now floating on the surface of water and causing steam making problems. And yes this can cause you to have comfort problems. I would call them back in am to drain and flush boiler and maybe skim also. Hope this helps

Bob W._2

Thanks, John.

Appreciate the quick response.

Floyd

Bob...

you can click on "steam problems" on the left hand side of the screen
and there you can read about some of what is happening.
Like John said..... the process has been started and not finished.....
make sure they come back and finish the job in the morning.
If that system has set for many years with out being touched it may
take quite awhile to get it flushed and get it to settle down again.
But you will have a much cleaner system in the end!!!

Floyd

Boonierat

Steam....................clean water

I've seen/used countless products in steam boilers, but in the end when all is said and done, plain 'ol clean water
is what makes steam trouble free. Skim it, skim it again, and then skim it again. Drain off the crud on the bottom.
The other posting was on the mark..............this takes time. Think about the oils/preservatives/lubricants used on cast iron boiler surfaces, steel nipples, cast fittings. All that lovely pipe dope. "ya gotta get rid of that stuff.
It's sitting on the floor of the boiler, and some of it is floating on the surface of the water. Good luck.