Oily Boiler Water

Jeff_44

I've read on this site and in Dan's books about oil
on the top of the boiler water can cause it
to surge in the gauge glass. Also that if
one boiles some of this 'oily' water on the stove, it will foam. Perhaps this is dumb question, but where does this oil come from?

Wild Bill

Oil

No such thing as a dumb question.....

Oil comes from Boiler Manufacturer when they machine sections (nipple ports etc.) also, from cutting steel pipe for the near boiler piping (unless you cheat and use copper....boo....hissss)

Wild Bill

Jeff_44

Thanks Bill,

Is this true even if the boiler is fairly old? (60 years plus).

Unknown

Bill

First of all, boiler manufacturers attempt to keep machining oils to a minimum and many, such as Burnham, hydrostatically test their assembled sections
to 1-1/2 times working pressure as a leak test. This process flushes out most of the leftover machining oils. As far as the use of copper on the near boiler piping goes, it will add oils to the boiler not keep them out. Solder paste and flux will get into the boiler and you'll have a bear of a time getting it out.

In many cases where an installer has completely wiped off cutting oil from his pipes but still ends up with oil, the sludge or oil that accumulates in the boiler has come back from the system. It may start out as corrosion in the pipes and radiators and ends up as sludge in the wet returns and boiler as it is scrubbed out by steam and condensate. New boilers tend to make steam faster and the amount of this brought back to the boiler is greater than an old boiler. Hope this helps.

Glenn Stanton

Manager of Training

Burnham Hydronics

www.burnham.com

Big Ed

oil

If oil is introduce into the system , like say from a repair.You need to skim it off again.

pb48

burhnam boiler

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR GLEN/I JUST INSTALLED A BURHNAM BOILER I HAD PROBLEM WITH SURGING / I USED A CHEMICAL IT SEEMS TO CORRECT MY PROBLEM HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DRAIN BOILER WATER TO KEEP IT CLEAN IM GETTING ALL DIFFERENT IDEAS BURHAN REP CLAIMS I SHOULD NEVER DRAIN WATER ONLY DRAIN WHEN I CLEAN PROBE FOR LWC

pb48

BURHNAM BOILER

Date: January 14, 2005 04:27 PM
Author: pb48
Subject: burhnam boiler



I HAVE A QUESTION FOR GLEN/I JUST INSTALLED A BURHNAM BOILER I HAD PROBLEM WITH SURGING / I USED A CHEMICAL IT SEEMS TO CORRECT MY PROBLEM HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DRAIN BOILER WATER TO KEEP IT CLEAN IM GETTING ALL DIFFERENT IDEAS BURHAN REP CLAIMS I SHOULD NEVER DRAIN WATER ONLY DRAIN WHEN I CLEAN PROBE FOR LWC

Unknown

As inoften as possible

If the sympton returns or continues, then clean the boiler. Many times it takes several attempts at skimming or cleaning the boiler water. More important than that is to also get it out of the wet returns to keep it from getting back in the boiler. Depending on what chemical you are using, you may not want to leave it in there.

Glenn Stanton

Manager of Training

Burnham Hydronics

www.burnham.com