Any tips for steam boiler prep for start of heating season?

Just about to get the steam boiler going for the season. Since it’s been off for the past bunch of months, I was wondering if there are any suggestions for prepping it for the season– or should I just flip on the thermostat and get it going? Never had issues with it, just wondering– last season we did a chemical cleanse/rinse of the system for the first time and was wondering if there are any other tips or helpful advice for the start of the heating season for a steam boiler system. Thanks!

stickerhappy

in Heating and Cooling 10 years and 9 months ago

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nalusurf | 10 years and 9 months ago

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MP, thanks for the advice. As always, very helpful!

Master Plvmber | 10 years and 9 months ago

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At the residential level, I don’t like using chemicals at all. With small systems, there’s not much you can’t achieve with regular maintenance that is done better with an additive. Some boilers, like Weil-McLain use gasketting materials that interact with many chemicals and while most are known, why risk fining out the hard way which combinations are bad. Keeping the system clean and set properly is all any residential boiler needs to operate at its peak.

nalusurf | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Thanks for the check list MP! What is your feeling on the cleaning/treatment additives, the 1 qt type bottles (looks like a qt of oil)? Can’t remember the name, sorry!

Master Plvmber | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Yes. Visual inspection. Make sure all air intake ducts and registers are clear inside the boiler room/area AND outside from where they originate. Check for proper water level in boiler, then drain a gallon or two and make sure the glass water column gauge shows the change of water level to make sure that gauge is clear and working. Drain enough water so that the boiler’s automatic water feeder, if there is one, turns on and fills the boiler and allows it to run. Check that it starts on the first attempt. If not, find out why. Once running, check for flue spillage. Nests, debris accumulate in the chimney over the summer. Run the boiler for a complete cycle. That means raise the thermostat and let the boiler run until the pressure rises and it shuts off. Check the pressure reading. It shoulnd’t be more than 1 or 2 psi in most cases for steam. Smell around for gas leaks. Pace around and look for puddles or wet spots around the return piping at the floor. The pros have a much more intensive checklist but these are things you can do that show what’s going on on the surface. This is me: http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/gatewayplumbing Edited to add my little video: http://www.smartshoot.com/video/gateway-plumbing–heating-new-york-d782046a642ccd08fc4bf6eb0d1c2345