Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

what would cause cast iron to disintegrate

what would cause the iron to puff up and look similar to plywood thats delaminating. ran into this on a weil-mclain steam boiler today. it had a 3'' single front left side top discharge and the back right side of the boiler,top of the section has sprung steam from the weirdest looking ''hole''. like i mentioned, it didn't look like a hole but like delaminated wood. any thoughts on what would cause this?

Comments

  • Jamie_6
    Jamie_6 Member Posts: 710


    We had the same problem about 5 years ago. After some research we found that the system had some leaks and was adding to much "new" fresh water. Creating some kind of oxygen depletion!
  • Tom M.
    Tom M. Member Posts: 237
    Possibly

    Possibly a small leak that is evaporating as soon as it comes out. Over time the section is eaten away and no evidence shows on the outside until it's too late. I've seen this kind of damage on a 66/68 series that didn't have the knockout removed over the tankless opening cover plate. The cover plate leaked and by the time rust showed at the bottom edge of the jacket, you could poke your finger through the jacket and the side of the boiler was as you described above.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,396
    If you don't have enough vents

    the condensate will turn to a mild acid, which can contribute to this problem.

    To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,467
    cast iron is certainly a

    very durable product. Yet, still no match for the universal solvent, WATER. Somewhere along the line, maybe currently the fluid inside the sections has caused this attack, I suspect.

    hot rod

    To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • ScottMP
    ScottMP Member Posts: 5,883
    My two cents

    To much fresh water. One of the first things I learned as an apprentice. We were replacing a section of a five year old steam boiler. Problem was too many piping leaks in the system and an over abundance of fresh make up water.

    Scott

    To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
  • John@Reliable
    John@Reliable Member Posts: 379
    gerry , some boiler co's

    consider more than 8 gallons of water added monthly as to much! Blowing down a lwco weekly = 2.5-3 gal. x 4 weeks = 10 - 12 gallons monthly and what about adding water @ other times? adds up quick to a rotten boiler. John@Reliable
  • David Sutton
    David Sutton Member Posts: 82
    we had two pidgens in a 76

    w-m they came down the chimney, the church had gone 3 yrs between cleanings no temp in the summer the moisture rotted a hole thru the two frist section...David
This discussion has been closed.