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Skimming a boiler

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mholzap
mholzap Member Posts: 18
in Strictly Steam
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I’m planning to skim my Burnham Independence boiler but not sure which port to use. I found the capped pipe in the first picture that looks like it can be used. Could I open it up and skim with that? If so, should I pop off the cap at the bottom or the one on the side of the pipe? If that’s not the right port to use, is there another one?


I read other folks modifying the steam release valve but that seems tricky with how tight the space is

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,861

    It's this one, there's a valve already on there for you. They removed the lever so clueless people wouldn't leave it open

    image.png

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • mholzap
    mholzap Member Posts: 18

    awesome thanks. So I pop off the bottom cap and then turn that lever?

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,861

    I don't see a bottom cap in the photo but if it's there, then yes, you remove that and open the valve and you're good to go

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,861

    I prefer a more horizontal configuration so you can see the water leave the boiler, but this vertical way works too.

    Do you suspect your boiler has oil in it? That's the only reason to skim

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • mholzap
    mholzap Member Posts: 18

    yeah definitely. We’ve had pipe work done, the water has gotten cloudier in the sight glass, pipes are noisy, and the sight glass looks like it might have oil floating on top (but maybe I’m just tricking myself to think that)

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,861
    edited December 2025

    It sure can't hurt. Pipe work will do it, unless they thought ahead to wash the pipes and fittings in detergent first (which really is a very good practice because oil is a pain to get out of the boiler)

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

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