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flushing steam boiler

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GTD
GTD Member Posts: 31
in Strictly Steam
I have a Weil McLain 368st oilfired boiler, it is used for hot water and heat, how many times a year should the boiler be complety flushed. thank You Tom

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  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
    edited September 2013
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    Never

    Never flush a steam boiler without good reason. make sure you find and fix any leak that requires you to add water more than once a month, if you have an automatic water feeder make sure it has a meter so you can monitor the water added. i would not have one on my boiler and have not had one on any boiler for 60+ years.



    Fresh water brings in fresh oxygen and that can destroy boilers over time.If you do have to flush a boiler or add water to it make sure you bring the boiler up to steam right after to drive off any oxygen.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
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    Check the water feeder pipe

    If the auto feeder input pipe is cold that tells you the valve is leaking fresh water into the boiler.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • Rod
    Rod Posts: 2,067
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    Flushing a Boiler

    Whether or not a boiler needs to be flushed depends a lot on the condition of the boiler water. If it ‘s very dirty then you may need to do a flushing.  Most dirt and crud collects in the low areas of the steam system which means the bottom of the boiler and in the Wet Return so these should be checked at least annually.  It’s important to “exercise” your drain valves occasionally so they are functional and don’t get clogged up. Just draining off a gallon or two of boiler water from the valves, clears them and makes sure they are functional. When adding “new” water to the boiler as Bob mentioned above, always make sure that you immediately heat that water to the boil to drive off dissolved oxygen as it can be very corrosive and shorten the life of your boiler.

    - Rod

                                                

    Here are some links to boiler flushing /cleaning which may be of help to you:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1tw9rz-pUk&list=UU7gDszI9COdVbfvJP2YdY5Q



    http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/364/Boilers/145/How-to-Flush-the-Return-Lines-on-an-Old-Steam-System



    http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/143078/Rinsing-the-boiler



    http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/146010/Flushing-out-boiler-with-inexpensive-and-easy-tool



     
  • GTD
    GTD Member Posts: 31
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    Flushing steamboiler

    Thank You for the info>
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