Boiler and Pipe Crosion

[BillLee]

My employer has a one pipe low pressure steam heat system. Some of the system is fairly old. One of my jobs is to "blow-down" the boiler each week during the heating season. Lots of rust! Recently we had to have a backflow prevention valve installed and I asked the tech doing it if there was some kind of anti crosion compound we could put into the make up water. He said the way to deal with the problem was a system that continually adds chemicals to boiler water. He estimated around $1k. I would appreciate any opinions. Thanks.

[Lori & Dean Wigmore]

Check out

Dean

[Mark Monson]

Are you blowing down the low water cut off or blowing down the boiler itself? It's essential to blow down the LWCO in order to keep crud from building up and fouling it but take it easy with blowing down the boiler. All the water you lose must be made up with oxygen rich fresh water. This tends to accelerate rusting of the boiler and pipes.

MM

[Wizbang]

Having a chemical systems in the make-up water is a must. You can contract a company like AquaChem to come in and test your water, and then they will recommend the proper chemicals. They usually also install a water meter that will deliver the proper amount of chemical for so many gallons of make-up used. The will also leave behind a test kit for you to measure critical levels in the water.

Blow down is an absolute must. In my past experience in Milwaukee County, I did it daily on all 3 150hp LP boilers. Even in a system that was chemically sound, I still saw small amount of rust, but it sound like nothing you see. I would do it more often than once a week until you can chemical added to your make up water....

[Mark Monson]

Yeah, and there are 100 year old one pipe steam boilers with original piping still in service that have never had chemicals added to the water.

MM

[Wizbang]

Original piping, of course - no way are they still running the same tubes in the vessel. Boiler tubes do wear out, even with a good chemical program. And are replaced as needed. I have seen many boilers re-tubed with good chemical programs, and less than 30 years of service.

[Mark Monson]

Cast iron sectional boilers. No tubes.

[Wizbang]