To drain, or not to drain...
-
- Member
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2014 11:47 am
- Location: Quakertown, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker '81 KA4 (online 1/16/17)
- Coal Size/Type: WAS Lehigh Rice (TBD)
- Other Heating: EFM SPK600
So the heating season has come to an end here and its time to shut down and clean for the season. Im wondering if i should consider draining the boiler for the season as it sits dormant or just leave it the way it sits? Thoughts?
Side note, my boiler gauge was reading 32psi this morning Highest i have seen it was 20 and it usually rides at 12-15. Not sure what happened for it to spike like that. I will open up the domestic coil ports when i clean and see if that has a hole maybe?
Side note, my boiler gauge was reading 32psi this morning Highest i have seen it was 20 and it usually rides at 12-15. Not sure what happened for it to spike like that. I will open up the domestic coil ports when i clean and see if that has a hole maybe?
- Freddy
- Member
- Posts: 7301
- Joined: Fri. Apr. 11, 2008 2:54 pm
- Location: Orrington, Maine
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 130 (pea)
- Coal Size/Type: Pea size, Superior, deep mined
I would never drain a boiler.....why introduce new oxygen when you refill it?
If your domestic coil has a leak, the boiler will be pushing water out the pressure relief.
If your domestic coil has a leak, the boiler will be pushing water out the pressure relief.
- BunkerdCaddis
- Member
- Posts: 708
- Joined: Sun. Jan. 18, 2015 10:26 am
- Location: SW Lancaster County
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Bairmatic-Van Wert
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Van Wert VW85H
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Saey Hanover II working when I feel the desire, Waterford 105 out on vacation, Surdiac Gotha hiding somewhere
- Coal Size/Type: pea/nut/rice/stove-anthracite, nut/stove bit when I feel the urge
- Other Heating: oil fired hydronic
- hotblast1357
- Member
- Posts: 5661
- Joined: Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 10:06 pm
- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
X3! Never drain a boiler, keep it full of non oxygen water. Maybe shut off the water feed to it in case something starts to leak you don’t have a huge mess on your hands, just remember to turn the water supply back on when firing it back up.
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 18009
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
The high pressure could be from a failed coil, or the pressure reducing valve on the make up water. You should be able to figure it out by valving things off and monitoring the pressure.
- Richard S.
- Mayor
- Posts: 15254
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 01, 2004 8:35 pm
- Location: NEPA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Van Wert VA1200
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/Anthracite
You shouldn't even change the water let alone drain it. The water itself contains dissolved oxygen and other gases. If you have ever let a glass of water sit overnight bubbles form on the inside of the glass... one of life's mystery explained. Those gases dissipate over time and the boiler water becomes "dead". This is also why it's important to fix even minor leaks.
- Richard S.
- Mayor
- Posts: 15254
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 01, 2004 8:35 pm
- Location: NEPA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Van Wert VA1200
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/Anthracite
What was the water temperature? That's high but this is the time of the year where it might be idling along for 22 hours and you get a lot of demand early for both heat and showering. Now you have a big fire going and demand just stops.
If the water temperature is also up try dropping the hi to 160 and the lo to 140.
-
- Member
- Posts: 2379
- Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
- Location: Ithaca, New York
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4-1 dual fuel boiler
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: former switzer CWW100-sold
- Coal Size/Type: rice
- Other Heating: kerosene for dual fuel Keystoker/unused
Do not drain the boiler. Do your seasonal cleaning and adding a drop light
or a container of "Damp Rid" after plugging the flue and chimney.
I leave my boiler at summer temperatures during the heating season.
or a container of "Damp Rid" after plugging the flue and chimney.
I leave my boiler at summer temperatures during the heating season.
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
And bypass any cold water supply for the DHW from flowing through the tankless coil for the off-season.
Needless cold water flow thru a coil in a dormant boiler could create condensing temp to the entire vessel to then encourage rust formation...even with a lightbulb/heater or not.
Needless cold water flow thru a coil in a dormant boiler could create condensing temp to the entire vessel to then encourage rust formation...even with a lightbulb/heater or not.
-
- Member
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2014 11:47 am
- Location: Quakertown, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker '81 KA4 (online 1/16/17)
- Coal Size/Type: WAS Lehigh Rice (TBD)
- Other Heating: EFM SPK600
Well I guess that sums it up. On a side note this hopper is never ending on my 10th day. Should finally be out this evening. I do think the PSI spike is from the temp, looked this afternoon and it was around 200* and 29psi. I plan on plugging the air scoop and use the expansion tank in the rafters to see how it goes next season.
- nepacoal
- Member
- Posts: 1701
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
If you are talking about a steel tank in the joists, do yourself a favor and add a drain-o-tank valve to it before you put it in service. It'll save you hours a trying to drain it when needed (if you don't already have one on your tank). My system with 150 gallons idles at 200 to 210 all summer and stays right at 13 psi with the large, steel expansion tank. They do need to be drained every few years or so.
Attachments
- hotblast1357
- Member
- Posts: 5661
- Joined: Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 10:06 pm
- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
Fill it back up and fire it up for a week or so.
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13768
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
The water will re oxygenate once cooled. Being in a sealed boiler isn't going to stop oxygen from getting to it.
https://www.google.com/amp/www2.claritywatertech. ... s_amp=true
https://www.google.com/amp/www2.claritywatertech. ... s_amp=true