Handyman Guide > Boilers

For the sake of economy and efficiency, the interior of a steam or hot water boiler should be kept free of dirt and oil. A certain amount of oil is present inside a new boiler, and this will mix with the water and cause rumbling when the water is heated.


The presence of oil will also necessitate more heat to change the water into steam. Oil in a boiler can sometimes be eliminated by using one of the commercial brands of boiler cleaning compound, or by having a plumber blowout the boiler.

Cleaning. The amount of dirt that gets into the boiler will depend upon the water supply. Dirt can be removed, in most cases, by opening the drain cock at the bottom of the boiler and allowing the dirty water and sediment to drain out. The boiler can then be flushed with clean water and refilled.

It is not a good practice, however, to clean out boilers too frequently, as there is an advantage in keeping the old water in the boiler as long as possible. When water has been heated, it loses most of its air content and is less apt to rust the interior of the boiler than fresh water. If your boiler contains a great deal of sediment, however, it must be cleaned, as the sediment will cause more damage than the rust.

Water Level. It is very important to keep enough water in the boiler. A hot water boiler has an altitude gauge which registers the amount of water in the entire system. A steam boiler has a glass gauge attached to the outside of the boiler.

In most cases, the correct water level will be indicated on the glass gauge, but if there is no mark, keep the water halfway up the gauge. If there is too much water in the boiler, more fuel will be required to produce steam, so keep the water at the proper level.

When it is necessary to add water to a boiler, see that the fire is low Fig. 19. Glass gauge indicating water level in a boiler and add the water very slowly. A sudden rush of cold water into a hot boiler may do serious damage.

Clean Glass Gauge. The glass gauge on the boiler will often become so dirty inside that it is impossible to make an accurate reading. Removing the glass tube and cleaning it by hand is a tiresome job, and there is always danger of breaking the tube.

A clever method is employed in cleaning these gauges without removing them. The only equipment needed is a cup of hot water, to which has been added a tablespoonful of muriatic acid. There should be a few pounds of steam in the boiler, and the valves at each end of the water gauge should be closed. Open the bottom petcock and, at the same time, the top valve.

Steam will be blown out through the petcock; as soon as this takes place, close the top valve and place the cup so that the opening in the petcock is below the surface of the liquid. The vacuum formed in the gauge will draw the solution into the gauge. Keep the petcock submerged and open the top valve again, so that the solution is forced out of the gauge and into the cup. Close the valve and draw the liquid back into the gauge. Repeat this operation until the inside of the gauge is clean. Close the petcock and open the two valves.



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