Is KEK Boiler Conditioner OK for Rubber Seals?

Ken_8

Like most "boiler cleaners" is harmful.

It is a flocculant that cleans the water by forming a gelatine-like 'base' and coagulates the suspended particulate matter (dirt) - where it becomes dense, drops to the boiler base and makes the water appear, for a while at least, clear. The problem is, it settles and "bonds" to the hottest part of the boiler (the bottom of the cast iron water side) and forms a hard crust over a short while.

This crust has a different rate of expansion than the iron it becomes "welded" to and causes incredible stress in some instances. The stress can result in cast iron cracks!

Further, it acts as an insulator if the water was dirty enough and does not allow the water to act as a heat trasnfer agent as designed, and raises the temperature of those aspects that become coated with the gunk - resulting in more stress on the surface from lack of intimacy with the water that is designed to maintain even thermal transfer.

There is no "oil" in KEK (that I am aware of). W/M simply quoted the corporate line about additives in general, not with specific regard to KEK.

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Steve Garson

Is KEK Boiler Conditioner OK for Rubber Seals?

I just had a new WM SGO-4 installed. After the repeated cleanings, the installer has added KEK to the boiler water. It seems like a fine product, but when I emailed tech support at WM I was told "We do not recommend chemicals be added. Especially petroleum based compounds. Seal deterioration will occur, resulting in leakage between sections". I assume that this is the party line to be safe.

From a practical viewpoint, is it OK to use this product, or should I drain and refill? I want this boiler to last as long as possible. Thanks to Steamhead and MadDog for all your help over the past six months while I learned and planned. Ed Wallace out of Watertown did the work and he is meticulous as can be. Great install with Everhot tankless feeding a small baseboard loop. The system makes steam in five minutes from a cold start, versus 45 minutes with my old 70 year old steam.

So is KEK OK? Or should I drain and refill?

Robert O'Connor_7

Steve

I'm not real familiar with KEK. Does it have an oil base? Petrol products eat other petrol products. Never use petroleum based products in a WM with the O-rings in it. Oil eats oil.


Robert O'Connor/NJ