| Author |
Message |
    
Zeno
Citizen
Username: Eratosthenes
Post Number: 87
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 4:56 am: |     |
I'd appreciate any advice from steamheads. I've been cleaning out crud from the return that's clogged up my boiler. The last thing I did was take apart the pressuretrol (it was running up to 5 psi when it was set to 0.5 psi). However now the pressure gauge is not moving, the pigtail is staying cold for most of its length, so I'm guessing some crud is blocked in there. Since I don't have anything that will reach in there, I'm thinking of taking off the pressuretrol (again) and running a head of steam to blow out any blockage.
As Laurence Olivier said to Dustin Hoffman, "Is it safe?"
In the next round of cleaning, I want to avoid bringing all the crud from the return back into the boiler. The recommended strategy is open the return drain valve while the system is running (with a trickle of water from the intake to replenish the boiler). I can do this, except there is no gate valve from the return into the boiler. I figure that, thanks to the Hartford loop, the worst that will happen is that some of crud may get past the drain valve into the boiler. Please let me know if I'm overlooking anything. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3527
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 8:44 am: | |
Is that safe, not really, but I would do it.
Why not just remove the pigtail and clean it with a sprayer or a bottle brush?
On the return, do you have removable parts before the loop? If so you can leave the boiler off, open a low spot, put a hose in a high spot and flush the crud out.
Then refill and re-fire.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3528
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 10:28 pm: | |
The risk of DIY.
I just heard from Zeno that while trying to remove the pigtail, it snapped off and now they are without heat.
Bummer.
I guess that I would add to my sugestions, my other rules.
Never work on a boiler on Sunday.
Avoid if possible, cranking on pipes during the heating season.
And, always have a backup plan in mind.
Sorry Zeno!! I know you called a heating plumber. If I can help even with an overide work around, you know how to reach me.
Later,
jgberkeley
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
Zeno
Citizen
Username: Eratosthenes
Post Number: 91
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 3:16 am: | |
George, thanks. I did read in a couple of places that, if the pigtail is really bunged up, it should be replaced rather than cleaned out. Well, okay then....
Now I have to convince my spouse that it's okay to let me at the boiler again.... |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 223
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 7:08 am: | |
Zeno...check out www.heatinghelp.com and order (now) We Got Steam Heat ... its a great book that will tell you exactly what you can and absolutely SHOUDN'T do yourself to your boiler ... I am a bit of a steam head and think its the most valuable info in my arsenal. 
And yeah, if you're not sure, I woudln't have chosen cold weather to do boiler stuff...clean it when it gets warmer
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
Zeno
Citizen
Username: Eratosthenes
Post Number: 98
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 3:57 pm: | |
Richard, thanks. I have We Got Steam Heat and Lost Art.
I was told by a plumbing supply store to clean in winter...I was leaving it too late to do it in spring! Get that Dry Steam #3 in there for 2 days to really clean things out. The problem is, my boiler is now full of gunk (and there's still debris coming down the return...). I've discussed cleaning on the Wall. Mad Dog advocates putting in MEX, running intake while draining from return, then run that puppy for 4-6 hours. Lost Art agrees. I can't do it with my piping (I would need intake after return drain valve, with a gate valve between them), and I'm nervous about running (even hot) fresh water straight into a firing boiler. |
tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2397
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 8:05 am: | |
Zeno,
I would think that a feed of hot fresh water into a firing boiler would be fine assuming that the feed started on a coldish boiler. The event that might crack a boiler is a sudden temperature change. However, if you start feeding water as the boiler starts firing and start skimming at the same time, it should be OK. |
mellie
Citizen
Username: Mellie
Post Number: 468
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 9:36 am: | |
Pigtail removal should not be complex.
Also, for what it is worth, the $50pa PSEG contract would I think get you an PSEG engineer out to look at and fix/replace the pitgtail. In fact if you do not have heat you may get PSEG to come out regardless and at no charge. Worth a call to them to find out I would say. |
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