Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!

Draining residential boiler in spring

Options
Kev82
Kev82 Member Posts: 6
edited 4:57PM in Strictly Steam

After the winter and not using heat for 3 weeks, should I completely drain the boiler and piping?

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 12,417
    edited 4:59PM

    Does your boiler use steam for the radiators or does it use water and a circulator pump?

    No in either case but some extra stuff for the steam boiler might be a good idea. If you are not sure than post a photo of the boiler and we will know.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • Kev82
    Kev82 Member Posts: 6

    Yes it is a steam radiotor system. I treat the water in the boiler during the heating season.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,482

    IF you think you have a lot of sludge in the bottom, there'd be no harm to blowing that down — but then refill it and run it to full song to get the oxygen out of the water. Otherwise leave it alone.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,916

    If you treat the water, there shouldn't be hardly any mud in there. Drain off like a quart max and see how it looks. If it starts to flow pretty clear there's no sense draining any more IMO. I'm in full agreement with Jamie's "leave it alone" advice!

    Out of curiosity, what is your treatment methodology?

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

Categories