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Post Heating Season Maintenance

Daniel Bishop
Daniel Bishop Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL
I just purchased a home built in 1903 with the original high pressure boiler. I had the unit professionally checked and serviced. Now that the heating season is almost over in Memphis, TN. I would like to know if there is some post-season maintenance that needs to be performed. Specifically, does the boiler and lines need to be drained? Or just turn the gas off and wait until next fall when the Boiler company returns to check and clean the unit.

Any assistance is appreciated.

Daniel

Comments

  • Dan Law
    Dan Law Member Posts: 59
    High Presure???

    WHOA! What kind of pressure are we talking about here? What is the relief valve
    setting? What manufacturer?

    When I hear the words "Original Boiler", "High Pressure" and "1903", in the same
    sentence, time for a few poignant questions. Any digital pics you could post?
  • Mark A. Custis
    Mark A. Custis Member Posts: 247
    Dan, Mr. Law is correct

    We need a bit more input. I like to flush the whole nine yards in the fall as part of winter start-up. Doing so then allows all of the disolved air I add to the system to get out while the system is running. I don't like to have "new water" sit in a system all summer.

    Pictures of the near boiler piping would help. Go looking for places to attach a garden hose.

    Mark

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  • Daniel Bishop
    Daniel Bishop Member Posts: 2


    Dan, Mark;

    Sorry for the confusion.
    The boiler is a steam heating system.

    I will try to find a digital camera and take
    some pics.

    Thanks,

    Daniel
  • Mark A. Custis
    Mark A. Custis Member Posts: 247
    Steam

    changes what I do. Now I would flush the crud out anywhere I can, so it won't sit around over the off season and turn into rock. Post the pics if you can.

    I'd still go looking for those hose connections and flush. Pay special attention to the wet returns. Fire it after flushing and you should be good to go. Now would be a good time to rehab any safties, like the blow down asseblies.

    As a last resort, check what the manufacturer thinks you should be doing.

    Mark

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  • Ben_3
    Ben_3 Member Posts: 71
    steam

    If you have two pipe steam this ia also a great time to replace any faulty traps or to clean out those F/Ts. Without having to worry about getting eveerything done in one trip or having to get it running again before you leave.
  • Mark A. Custis
    Mark A. Custis Member Posts: 247
    You got me,Ben:

    Traps and vents, and any leaky or nonfunctioning radiator valves. Sorry my head was out in the backyard feeding birds.

    Mark

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  • Dan Law
    Dan Law Member Posts: 59
    \"High Pressure\"

    Still concerned with your reference to High Pressure. When posting your pics,
    could you try to get a close up pic of the relief valve tag, and maybe even the
    presuretrol settings? I don't mean to be an alarmist, but it's not completely
    impossible you have exactly what you describe - a 1903, high pressure, original
    steam boiler. Not likely, agreed, but I guess I'm overly conservative about giving
    advice and making assumptions on equipment. I'm even more concerned now that you've identified the system as steam.

    I would have thought the guy you had professionally check the system would
    have brought it to your attention if this were the case, so I’m probably being over
    cautious, but it’s kept me in original fingers and toes for thirty years.
This discussion has been closed.

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