Cleaning a steam system

Paul Mitchell

Quick question for all and a quick tale. What do you guys recommend I use to clean out an old sytem and the procedure? Also today I looked at a house with a problem of water shooting out some radiators.First I found some rusty water by all the radiator air vents. Seven radiators in the house. Then I went into the basement and found the problem. This homeowner had someone replace the steam boiler a year or so ago. Well there was no header at the boiler, no equalizing line down and no hartford loop. And yet agian the infamous copper for the supply piping. Looks like they tried to pipe it like a hot water boiler. So now I am working on a proposal to re-pipe the boiler correctly. The other contractors answer to the water coming out was to put in a condensate return pump. I don't think this is needed if the boiler is piped correctly.
Thanks

Steamhead

You're right, Paul

that wrong near-boiler piping is probably at fault. But a plugged wet return can do that too- be sure to check it. You do not need a pump on this system.

You may find the main vents and radiator vents damaged by all that water. If so, they will need replacement. If there are no main vents, they need to be added. Measure the length and diameter of each main and we can tell you what vent is needed on each.

As far as cleaning boilers, if the manufacturer is still in business check with them. You don't want to damage a boiler that has gaskets instead of push-nipples. Dan has reprinted several manufacturers' cleaning procedures in "The Lost Art of Steam Heating". Get a copy if you don't already have it.

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Paul Mitchell

main size is

2" and 35' long. goes aroud the basement. thanks for the input.

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Paul Mitchell

whhoops looked at notes

the main is 2" but there are two, split around basement,18' each...thanks

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Steamhead

Main Vents

A single Gorton #1 or Hoffman #75 at the end of each main should work nicely.

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Paul Mitchell

thanks



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George_10

cleaning

Are you dealing with a corrosion by-product issue or is it a calcium scaling problem? or is it both? There are specific types of chemistries used for either and blended products for both. There are also products that require the boiler and piping to be cleaned "offline" while some work with the boiler "online". Let me know your specific situation and maybe I can help you select the right stuff to get the job done.

Scott