Cleaning Steam Boiler

tom_54

I will have a pro do it but can any explain how it can be done? I have Dan's book and also found this on Weil-Mclain's site. How does one get the temparture of the boiler to 180 without letting it make steam. And finnaly how do you keep it there?

Steam Boilers
To clean a steam boiler, use one pound of trisodium phosphate for every fifty gallons of water content. Heat the boiler to 180°F; hold at 180°F for two hours. Do not allow the boiler to make steam. After two hours, drain the boiler and fill with fresh makeup water. Water treatment chemicals should be thoroughly reviewed before they are introduced into the boiler. Foaming agents that will interfere with steam action are of particular concern. Sodium carbonate (one pound for every 30 gallons) or sodium hydroxide (lye) (one pound for every fifty gallons) may be used.

Check pH level after cleaning. It should be between 7 and 8.5. A small amount of cleaner may be added to adjust the pH up to the proper range.

DO NOT use petroleum based products in the boiler.

DanHolohan

Which book

do you have? The cleaning procedure is in The Lost Art of Steam Heating.

tom_54

Thanks Dan

I have "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" and "A Pocketfull of Steam Problems". I've read much of both books, though I admit I didn't make it to Chapter 16 in LASH yet. I just took a look at it now.

I've been in the house two years now and wondering if it is time to upgrade to a different heating system, it not at least the boiler itself. I just want to be the most comfortable I can as economically as I can.

Steamhead

Steam is efficient

when properly installed and maintained, just like most other types of equipment.

If your boiler is about 20 years old or less, it has an annual efficiency of at least 80%. If it's older, it could be much less efficient.

Also, once the boiler has generated the steam, its job is done. From there the system must move the heat to the rooms. This part of the process can usually be upgraded too- mainly by proper air venting and insulation.

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tom_54

Thanks steamhead

My bolier is pretty old. I have been told it is probably 50 years old and that it was designed to be used with coil or oil. Anyway I've got the piping insulated and new main vents and recently new radiator vents. I guess the last two things I could do are have the boiler cleaned and possible increase the firing rate to get more out of it. I feel like it takes to long to heat up the house a few degrees in the morning. And I wonder how much fuel should be used in a typical winter day.