black paint for pipes

midway

it is at the 90* elbows where asbestos was taken off. figured I'd paint to see if there is any leaks at the threads. Each day I have to add water to the glass tube to bring it up to the mark they have put on. Usually loses about inch each day

midway

black paint question

Was going to paint some of the pipe on one pipe system that has rust on it. Bought a can of "rust-oleum". Got home and read not to use on anything over 200* degrees. Is there special black paint for the pipes which will also stop rust?

Brad White_9

Yes

Rust-oleum makes high temperature paint (1200 F) for stove pipes and engines. Used to come only in black, not sure if they have colors now, probably do.

I personally would figure why it is rusting, (1), and (2) if it is dry forever at this point, why not insulate it?

Just my $0.02,

Brad

soot_seeker_2

Uh-oh

That sounds like a bit more water loss than I would be comfortable with. Adding too much fresh water will rot out a boiler fast!

Find that leak.

Long Beach Ed

Booger

Does your return line run under the floor?

midway

No separate return line. this is a (? one pipe system ?), has a regular radiator at the end of one leg, other leg branches off and feeds three fin radiators, two which have return pipes going back to the same feed line. The house has been enlarged on second floor but steam has been disconnected to that area. I do get rust smell once in a while. (No my nose isn't that BIG. LOL) I kinda think there's a leak at threads somewhere, thats why I was going to paint them.

thfurnitureguy_4

counter flow?

That much water should show up on the floor unless the leak is in the boiler its self. look for water stains under any steam pipes first. if you can't find any, look at your smoke stack when the boiler is firing and see if there is white smoke/steam coming out the stack. Another test is to first check to see if you have working boiler drains. If so you can over fill the boiler to above where the site glass shows full and just a bit more. If the leak is at the water line of the boiler you will start to leak on the floor below the boiler. NOTE turn the thing off before you flood it and drain it back to the line after your done the test. Leaky boiler may need to be replaced. This is also the time to size the boiler to the new load.

JJ_4

Leak

On my one pipe I got leaks in the un-insulated condensate "return". Its over 80 years old and, as I understand it, oxygen in the water causes "tracking" at the bottom of the pipe erroding the metal.

I suppose this could also happen at 90's in the supply line because steam is bound to condense at turns (??).

Just an idea.

midway

going to have to wait on filling the boiler, we've got 10* weather coming in. About a month ago we didn't add any water for a couple of days which resulted in the LWCO to kick in. The Hoffman A-1 on the radiator does a lot hissing even tho it has been turned down below the "1" mark so I'm thinking that may be all or part of the trouble. Also in the cellar just below one of the fin radiator's feed line there are rust stains. (floor hides the connection)will have to check that connection out. Thanks for your help. By the way I did get some of that "Rust-oleum High Heat" paint. Now I have to wait for cooler weather, says not to paint while pipes are hot. Thanks again.