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Empty boiler & new drain valve size options

cubicacres
cubicacres Member Posts: 358
edited June 2022 in Strictly Steam
Now that our leaking boiler drain valve let all the water out in the past 48 hours, is it ok to keep it empty for a few days while we get a new drain valve (appreciate the advice from the previous thread) wondering about oxidation if left empty rather than full for a while until we fill it up for the summer)?  We'd like to use a wand to wash it out now that it's empty, but not sure if we'll get to that if time is of the essence quickly to replace all the water & add a steamaster tablet for summer storage.

And since the 3/4" valve has 2 larger adapters behind it, is there value in ( trying) to remove them to install a larger 1" or 1.5" or 2" valve in hopes it will drain better/more mud over the years since larger diameter? The 3/4" is slightly more convenient since hose sized, so curious if there's any opportunity to improve while we're at it.

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 8,382
    Only if you're going to hook it to something larger than a garden hose.
    EdTheHeaterMan
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 21,526
    But you can leave it empty for a few days while you get a new valve.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 6,042
    I like to put 1-1/2" nipple and a full port ball valve on that bottom tapping for fast flushing to move more water and more mud out of there. Then I put another 1-1/2 Nipple to connect a large (2") rubber hose to it for that flush. After the flush is done, a bushing or reducing coupling to 3/4" with a boiler drain for the customer or other service that requires draining the boiler. That 2" hose goes back to the shop for another day.
    Edward F Young. Retired HVAC ContractorSpecialized in Residential Oil Burner and Hydronics
  • cubicacres
    cubicacres Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2022
    Saw the inner adapter was marked 2 1/2 x 1, does that mean 2.5" diameter & 1" long adapter?  And then I'll use a 2.5" brass nipple and valve?
  • cubicacres
    cubicacres Member Posts: 358

  • cubicacres
    cubicacres Member Posts: 358
    If that's a reducer from 2.5" to 1", removing that second adapter makes it inside the boiler jacket a bit. Would it be easier to just remove the first adapter and be close to flush with the blue metal boiler jacket for pipe wrench use, settling for a 1" brass nipple to extend it a bit & use a 1" ball valve?
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 8,382
    It is a reducer from 2.5" to 1". 2.5" fittings can be a little hard to find locally. You would have to either remove the jacket or use a socket to remove the larger bushing.

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