Acid Cleaning steam boiler in one pipe system

The Steam Whisperer · May 19

WE have a couple of 2 -3 million btu steam boilers that need acid cleaning. I am concerned the fumes will go out into the system and out the radiator vents in the living units.

What is the experience of others with this situation. There is no king valve to isolate the boilers from the system.

Mad Dog_2 · May 19

What kind of acid? Mad Dog

The Steam Whisperer · May 19

Calci Solve

deyparts.com/product/nu-calgon-calci-solve-one-gallon-4134-08?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=&campaign_id=17580122324&adgroup=&adgroup_id=&network=x&device=c&matchtype=&placement=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17335597089&gbraid=0AAAAACPje7PzvRNPk9cpU04Da3Eu0aL5v&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlLDQBhDjARIsAPlIefGoRP_5gQeceqasNXzkBbyfNDzGgp-FGSm8ghzQ_23Ks2K6wNJLxhYaAibXEALw_wcB

pecmsg · May 19

how do you know they need an Acid Cleaning?

EBEBRATT-Ed · 12:22AM

4134_sds_eng_v21.pdf

Attached is the SDS.

I am the farthest thing from a chemical expert there is.

But to me these reads like something you wouldn't want to breathe.

Mad Dog_2 · 12:28AM

Definitely not..I've used Muriatic acid outdoors to clean rust off of concrete. Your concern is very real. With no King Valves or Isolation valves on the returns, there is no guarantee you can contain and then purge it out. If I were you, I wouldn't do it unless An Engineer and OSHA Competent Person signed off on it. Mad Dog

mattmia2 · 12:37AM

how much are you diluting it, that will make a big difference. taping up the vents would keep it out of the building, i'd be concerned about flushing the acid formed from the vapors up in the system out.

what are you trying to accomplish here and could you use something like citric acid that doesn't form vapors

Mad Dog_2 · 12:43AM

We've also used it to burn out mineral building on wells. Once again, all outdoors and the ability to flush everything out with copious amounts of water. At the VERY LEAST, building inhabitants could complain of eye, nasal and lung 🫁 irritation. Mad Dog

ChrisJ · 12:58AM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1896930#Comment_1896930

I use it in my pool from time to time and yeah....

You don't want to be down wind of that. Even highly diluted those fumes are as welcoming as an outhouse breeze

Jamie Hall · 1:13AM

The best I can say is that it will work. The building should NOT be occupied when it is in use, and the entire heating system must be thoroughly purged of vapours before the building is reoccupied — and I honestly have absolutely no idea how to do that with a one pipe steam system.

There must be some very very good reason you need to use something like that?

mattmia2 · 3:44AM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1896938#Comment_1896938

not just vapors but any moisture in the system when the hydrogen chloride gas contacts it will form a hydrochloric acid solution in that water so you need to flush that water out too(and that acid may have unintended consequences).

Acid Cleaning steam boiler in one pipe system

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