System flush

Post Reply
 
Rockridge
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:06 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM DF 520

Post by Rockridge » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:09 pm

I have a read a few posts about folks who flush out their system to resolve issues.

I don't have any issues with my system. Should start flushing it out yearly. I open the drain once a week and let it run until its no longer a dark brown. I assume its just rust deposits from the pipes.

Its a EFM DF 520.

 
User avatar
Lightning
Site Moderator
Posts: 14659
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:25 pm

That might not be a good idea since letting fresh oxygen rich water into the system frequently could promote deterioration. Hopefully one of the boiler experts will chime in.

 
Rockridge
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:06 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM DF 520

Post by Rockridge » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:27 pm

I figured if it's not broke then don't fix it, but I understand preventative maintenance can be good.

I guess I don;t wanna find out the whole top end rotted out just cause I didn't flush it or add chemicals or whatever.

 
User avatar
Lightning
Site Moderator
Posts: 14659
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:30 pm

Rockridge wrote:
Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:27 pm
I figured if it's not broke then don't fix it, but I understand preventative maintenance can be good.

I guess I don;t wanna find out the whole top end rotted out just cause I didn't flush it or add chemicals or whatever.
I don't think you understood my post. Your weekly addition of fresh water may not be healthy but let one of the boiler experts chime in to confirm.

I mean, if you drain water out of the system weekly, doesn't fresh water need to come in to replace it?


 
Rockridge
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:06 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM DF 520

Post by Rockridge » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 2:54 pm

Yes it does. It's a steam system so the water evaporates. There is a regulator that is supposed to do it automatically, but that broke. So I manually let water in as it drops below the halfway mark.
My question is specifically flushing the entire system.

 
User avatar
Lightning
Site Moderator
Posts: 14659
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 3:29 pm

Oh okay, someone will come along... and by the way - welcome to the coal board.. ;)

 
User avatar
Sting
Member
Posts: 2983
Joined: Mon. Feb. 25, 2008 4:24 pm
Location: Lower Fox Valley = Wisconsin
Other Heating: OBSO Lennox Pulse "Air Scorcher" burning NG

Post by Sting » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 4:15 pm

Annual flushing of the mud legs on a steam boiler is common maintenance
http://parkerboiler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/0 ... ctions.pdf

 
User avatar
ShawnTRD
Member
Posts: 513
Joined: Tue. Feb. 04, 2014 1:04 am
Location: Spencer, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA6 (New in April 2014)
Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Rice
Other Heating: Weil Mclain WGO-2 (Net 75k BTU)

Post by ShawnTRD » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 5:06 pm

Sting wrote:
Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 4:15 pm
Annual flushing of the mud legs on a steam boiler is common maintenance
http://parkerboiler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/0 ... ctions.pdf
Hey Sting,
On this topic is there anything that would auto add a anti-rust boiler additive when the boiler is adding water? That would also tell me is for some reason a lot of water is going into the boiler. How much fresh water should a pressure valve need to add to keep pressure? I'm guessing not much unless you have a leak.


 
User avatar
coaledsweat
Site Moderator
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 6:21 pm

Steam boilers add water by level, not pressure.

 
memco man
Member
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon. Oct. 24, 2011 10:18 pm
Location: vermont
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 KA-6 Keystoker
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Tarms 504
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: alaska liberty
Hand Fed Coal Stove: jotul NR 507, crane coal cooker 44, crane 404, chubby w/blower, chubby w/out blower, franco blege 10-475 Montgomery ward laundry stove Moore's Brother seventeen circulator stove
Coal Size/Type: nut/anthracite/pea
Other Heating: harman p68, elmtree,harthstone,new mack

Post by memco man » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 10:14 pm

Good evening all I am not a plumber and not even close to being one but a have a friend that is. I asked him about flushing my oil boiler out every other year the reason I was asking him that is that is because I have a artesian well with a ton of minerals in the water it is so hard that I can only get about 6 months out of a DHW coil before it plugs up he told me, that the best thing to do is to leave it sealed and not let the oxygen into the system it seems to be working because I have had the boiler for about twenty years other then routine maintenance I have not had any trouble with it so far. He also told me that if you had a open system boiler ie. outdoor wood boiler that you had to test the water monthly and add a additive to it to keep the boiler from rusting out
Don't know if this helps it has work for me

Memco (Bill)

 
User avatar
Sting
Member
Posts: 2983
Joined: Mon. Feb. 25, 2008 4:24 pm
Location: Lower Fox Valley = Wisconsin
Other Heating: OBSO Lennox Pulse "Air Scorcher" burning NG

Post by Sting » Fri. Nov. 24, 2017 11:00 pm

Akhemmmm

Hey Folks
The kind advice regarding what works in some guys hot water vessel is sort of USELESS when it comes to steam vessel maintenance

Shawn = maybe you will find this useful http://www.ioia.net/images/PDF/Boiler_additives_d ... tified.pdf
Sort of wordy but points you downstream and is more than i wish to key here
Best thing would be to find a steam boiler guy locally and adopt his chemical supplier after a water test.

Kind Regards
Sting

 
User avatar
coaledsweat
Site Moderator
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Sat. Nov. 25, 2017 8:41 am

Hot water boilers don't need to be flushed. With steam boilers it is a must. Having witnessed the damage a layer of mud can do to a 250 horsepower boiler, I strongly recommend it. Catastrophic failure is the end result of steam boiler neglect.

 
memco man
Member
Posts: 217
Joined: Mon. Oct. 24, 2011 10:18 pm
Location: vermont
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 KA-6 Keystoker
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Tarms 504
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: alaska liberty
Hand Fed Coal Stove: jotul NR 507, crane coal cooker 44, crane 404, chubby w/blower, chubby w/out blower, franco blege 10-475 Montgomery ward laundry stove Moore's Brother seventeen circulator stove
Coal Size/Type: nut/anthracite/pea
Other Heating: harman p68, elmtree,harthstone,new mack

Post by memco man » Sat. Nov. 25, 2017 9:32 am

My apologies Rockridge when I posted the post I did realize that it was a steam boiler that you were talking I did not read all the threads thoroughly enough sting and coaledsweat are right that was bad advise I need to be more careful before I jump in

Again I apologize
Memco

Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”