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skimming boiler

eburke_5
eburke_5 Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL
I have started to skim my boiler due to hammering. The water in the sight glass is now clear, but the upper part of the sight glass is somewhat dirty and I have a lot of surging. When I skim the boiler should the water be perfectly clear and do I have to keep skimming the boiler until it is? thanks ed

Comments

  • John@Reliable_5
    John@Reliable_5 Member Posts: 76
    Skimming takes a long time...................

    and must be done properly. I like using aleast a 11/4" tapping with a nipple and then a tee, bring water just about half way up in tee and let the draining begin, now turn on water to maintain water level in tee with boiler on , this can takes hours until all surface matter is removed, Hope this helps John@Reliable
  • Simply Rad
    Simply Rad Member Posts: 193


    I built a nipple 1 1/2, and it tapers down to a 1 inch valve. Built it through parts at home depot. Water is dirty looks like i will be skimming for a while. The trick part seems to be not let the steam rise into the radiators.
    Thanks for your help. e burke
    Jeffrey Campbell
  • Jason
    Jason Member Posts: 17
    watched my service guy skim

    My service company sent a guy over to drain and skim my boiler this fall. I wish I had that done last year when I bought the house.

    My service guy used a 1 1/2 inch pipe with a valve connected to the skim tapping. Set the feeder to trickle and just jumped the controller right at the burner until steam would just start to come out of the pipe and then shut it off for 5-10 minutes. Repeat on/off cycle for 3-4 hours. The water was clear eventually. I'd do this myself but the pumps he had really made it easy. I got to sit there and BS steam heat with the guy for 3 hours. The guys at White Fuel in RI are big fans of Dan's books.

    Even after the skim, I still get some bouncing in my water line.
  • Unknown
    Unknown


    I did the same thing. New boiler and its been skimmed twice. Second time I watched the guy do it, was going real well and moving a lot of dirty water out and then the fire alarm went off. Wife was screaming dog was howling and the fire department showed up! Service guy beat a path out after that. From all the posts it looks likes skimming takes awhile, and most of these techs either don't have or can't spend the time like we can. I skimmed my boiler for the first time yesterday, water is still dirty. Looks clear except right at the top. Still have the hammering and its driving me and the dog nuts. Waiting for an order of Gorton valves to come in, and plan to set up my radiators based on their suggestions. There was one Gorton on a radiator before I replaced all the vents, it was a D. I wonder if it had been put on this radiator to stop the hammering before. Also had a small radiator in the front hall that was not working, and when I put a new valve on it now works, but I wonder if this might be where the knocking is coming from. Everytime the hammering starts the dog starts. ed
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