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Draining residential boiler in spring

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Kev82
Kev82 Member Posts: 6
edited May 15 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: 12,426
    edited May 15

    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: 27,495

    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: 8,920

    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

    dabrakeman
  • patrykrebisz
    patrykrebisz Member Posts: 126

    No. The insides of the boiler will remain moist for many weeks.

    »»» See my steam heat YouTube videos:
    https://www.youtube.com/@HeatingBlog

  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,727

    Please read this:
    https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/what-to-do-with-boilers-during-the-summer/

    Retired and loving it.
  • Don_175
    Don_175 Member Posts: 178
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1897016#Comment_1897016

    I just read that article. So, he was saying to remove the water in a steam boiler? Ours sits unused all summer. I always thought it should be left alone.

  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,727

    I would leave it alone.

    Retired and loving it.
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 3,065

    @DanHolohan

    Did you ever take a creative writing class? Your writing style is entertaining while drawing the reader in. I guessed years ago that you were the author of Zoning Made Easy, and you verified that a few years ago on this forum. It's an excellent style that I have shared with many students in the past.

  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,727
    edited May 21

    Thanks! I never took a class, but I’ve read a lot of books, mostly novels. I have a huge collection of brief descriptions that inspire me. For example:

    He had the attention of a hummingbird

    A yacht of a nose

    As quiet as greased smoke

    I have never understood the two of you. She’s a steaknife, and you’re a dessert spoon.

    She ended the conversation with the efficiency of a guillotine.

    She looked at me the way a woman looks at a pair of shoes that are OK, but not quite right.

    Her eyes were clover green and Celtic fierce. 

    He picked his words as though they were fruit on a bramble bush. 

    As hot as a Tex-Mex picnic on Mercury 

    He entered the room looking like a Spanish galleon in full sail. 

    He left like a creaking rocking chair, squeaking and leaning back-and-forth.

    He was charismatically challenged.

    As crazy as a soup sandwich

    He kept smiling at her with a mouth like a wet keyhole. 

    Retired and loving it.
    ratioErin3

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