What do I use to stop boiler foaming and where do it get it.

LKE

Sodium carbonate is used to promote a desirable alkalinaty and to inhibit formation of calcium sulfate scale ,commonly known as gypsum, it also may inhibit silica scale ; these are the most undesirable of scale materials. I believe washing soda is primarily sodium carbonate.In boilers, it hydrolyzes to form sodium hydroxide and co2 gas, the gas passing off with the steam, generally 70 to 90% of the sodium carbonate becomes sodium hydroxide. Sodium phosphate (either TSP trisodium Phosphate, disodium phosphate, or monosodium phosphate )is used principally to precipitate calcium in the boiler water, it having considerably less tendancy to form objectionable deposits than the calcium compounds that otherwise would be present. The calcium is precipitated as tricalcium phosphate.If there is an excess of alkalinaty present then monsodium phosphate is used, allowing one to control the alkalinaty by which of the sodium phosphates is used.When the reaction is with sodium carbonate the products are the insoluable tricalcium phosphate and sodium carbonate which in turn controls calcium sulfate scale and also hydrolyzes to sodium hydroxide keeping the ph high wich is desirable.The solubility of iron in dearated water at room temperature is very near zero at a ph of 11, making this a desirable level.Sodium aluminate is also used as aid or substitute to sodium carbonate and sodium phosphate,having many of the qualities of sodium carbonate. Was the washing soda primarily sodium carbonate? Did you drain the boiler and refill after using this as cleaner? What was the final ph, after a few days allowance for reactions to take place?

Joe Grosso

Have a steam boiler that is flooding and tested the water with dans test and it is foaming and very akaline.What do I use to clean this steam and get the ph right.Never had one this bad.It is a sct peerless and all these peerless steam real fast but not like this one.Thanks for the help in advance.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If dirty...

...believe TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) is quite effective but it is alkaline on its own.

The "real" TSP is not available in all areas. The box will say somethign like "TSP Free" with "Free" in little letters. Because of this home centers and the like often don't carry it even where allowed to avoid dual stocking. If allowed in your area, paint stores usually carry the real thing.

Think I've read here that a bottle of vinegar can do wonders, but I'd wait until a real "Steamhead" replies.

jack_4

Skim it

Start with a good long slow skim, use a colloid treatment and after a couple of weeks, skim again.

Joe Grosso

thanks for the responses but I have skimmed the boiler a few times and can not get the water to proper ph levels and it still is foaming making the water feeder to come on

Ray M_2

Foaming

Joe, I used a product made by Rochester Midland. It is a dispersant for cooling towers.I'll have a look in my shop to see if i have some.



Ray M

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butch

You can use all the chemicals made and skim all you want$$$$$$$$--However there is already a product on the market for over 30 years that will STOP STEAM BOILERS from foaming & surging!!!!!! They are manufactured by Ever-Hot all copper, A trusted name for many years.It's called a Non-Surge Tank and real EZ to install, and if it doesn't work IT'S A FREEBIE !!!!! That's how confident they are it will do the JOB! Call for more information @ 617-924-3877. Good Luck!!!

R Berg

Mike is correct, you can use TSP to clean boilers, most boiler makers recommend using TSP, it is a alkaline cleaner so your ph will be high. Use vinegar to bring the ph down, this is what i use. You will not need alot, it will take you maybe several attemps, if you go too far on the acid side of 7.0 ph just add a little TPS. Hope this helps. Donot let the boiler make steam when cleaning with the TSP. Weils Mclain states one lbs TPS foe every 50 gallons of water, mantain 180 degree for two hours or more.Drain and refill boiler

MMC

WE USE CASCADE DISHWASHING SOAP NON SCENTED TO CLEAN LEAVE IT IN FOR A FEW DAYS SKIM DUMP ETC AS UAUSAL PH USE BAKING SODA TRY TO SKIM UP OVER THE TOP OUT THRU THE HEADER / OVERHEAD .TRY A GIFFORD LOOP INSTEAD OF HARTFORD LOOP

Earthfire

Ph

What is the ph of the feed water? How much sediment in the bottom of the boiler? Something raised the Ph and it sure isn't the iron ,steel and other components of the piping of the boiler.You may have to do dump, flush, and refill with clean filtered and treated water,and filter and treat the makeup water.By the way what is the PH of the boiler water?

Unknown

Joe , when you skimmed

did you flush the returns out also ? We install a purge setup on the return side to clean out all the crap that was steamed from the new boiler . Also , is it city water coming in , well water ? Did you happen to take a ph test of the water coming in ?

We also use Sid Harveys Crystal Clear boiler treatment . We dump it in before the water goes in the boiler , and we let it steam through the system for a few days . While we are there on the install we give the boiler a quick skim after about 1/2 hour of steaming - on the ECT line we use the 1 1/2 inch tapping in the back , a nice sized skim hole . Does the SCT have that tapping ?

After a few days we send someone back to drain the boiler , refill and skim , and flush the returns . Good luck Joe .

Joe Grosso

Finally got the system clean.

Had a talk with a 90 year old heating eng that work for city of ny many years back.I used arm and hammer washing soda.I you guys never tried this stuff before it is great.It took about 4 hours to get the system clean and finished off with 3 bottles of squick from silver king.Made 1 pound of steam and the water line never moved in 20 minutes and yes ron I have been putting the valve to flush out the returns also Ron like I had seen you do on a couple of jobs.Also did a ph test before and after.

B. Tice

My 2 cents for future reference

I'm with Ron on the Sid Harvey's Crystal Clear. Stuff is awesome, better than Squick IMHO.