Steam Boiler Cleaning and Maintenance

Ken_40

Here's what it depends on:

1) The make and model boiler.

2) The "form" of steam system it was originally designed as.

3) The nature and form of the former and original system, especially near-boiler piping.

4) The nature, sizing and form of this newest near-boiler piping.

5) The nature and extent of the pipe insulation.

6) The nature and form of the attached load (EDR)

7) The nature, form and condition of the main vent(s).

8) The nature and form of the radiator vent(s)

9) Th condition and position of each radiator angle stop-valve.

10) The amount of water lost during mild ~40F weather. *

11) The amount of water lost during the bitterest cold of winter. *

12) Have cats, or dogs ever in the basement?

13) How far is the clothes drier from the boiler, in feet.

14) How would you characterise the water? Hard, soft, well, city, average, treated?

15) When installed, was anything besides clean water put in the boiler? If so, what?

16) What kind of pressuretrol and what is the cut-out; cut-in setting(s) and/or differential set at?

17) Any automatic feeder?

* denotes: as measure of time, from the upper third of the gage glass; to the lower third of the gage glass in days/weeks/months for that level of drop to occur, assuming a 6" gage glass. Alter as appropriate.

When you get us those 17 answers, we may have one or two more, but that should do it.

Pete M

Steam Boiler Cleaning and Maintenance

Hello Folks,

I've been lurking here since we bought our 1929 house and were introduced to steam heat. The introduction was unpleasant but the remedy is vrey nice. We now have a new Peerless boiler installed by folks I trust.

My question is what can I do to maintain the boiler? I have had it serviced since installation and it cost a bundle (over $600). While they did a great job, I am handy, and feel I can do parts of the job myself so I can reduce the expense.

How do I go about learning what I can do and what I shouldn't do? I can skim, clean out the sight glass, low water cutoff, clean the burners, etc. But I don't know the procedures.

I'd like to clean as much as I possible and leave the rest to the boiler company. Any help is much appreciated.

Very Best Regards,

Pete