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Author Topic: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???  (Read 6855 times)

Oak Hillbilly

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Once this season comes to an end, I wondered if i should drain the boiler for the spring and summer months.  This is my 3rd season with the BL-2840. I'm very happy with it, and have never drained it before and always have my water ph level tested. 

Thoughts and advice...
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RSI

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2017, 07:22:58 PM »

No, just make sure water is properly treated.
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aarmga

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2017, 08:27:50 PM »

I was told to fill the boiler all the way to the overflow with water. Keeps everything protected. Drain to normal level before firing.
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mlappin

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2017, 08:55:54 PM »

I was told to fill the boiler all the way to the overflow with water. Keeps everything protected. Drain to normal level before firing.

Some treatments claim to vaporize and coat the entire inside surface of the stove, so no need to fill clear full in the off season.
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aarmga

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2017, 09:10:39 PM »

Some treatments do this... but not all of them??  How do we know what ones to purchase that do this?  I feel like I should be using this in my stove as well.
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mlappin

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2017, 09:33:50 PM »

Can’t remember who claimed to have one that did that, sounds like fish oil to me.

A few claim to leave a film behind to protect the metal, so in theory if it was clear full when it was hot, when it cools off the metal should still be protected. Think Wood Boiler Solutions was one of those.

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aarmga

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2017, 10:10:49 PM »

That's what I use in my stove.  I still fill mine completely full at the end of the season.  Seems like I can add roughly 30 gallons of water to fill it completely from the full mark on the float.
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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2017, 05:06:38 AM »

From what I've seen checking nitrates, electrical conductivity and ph every season will save a lot of treatment. Once the water is treated and has "oxidized away" any free oxygen it's basically "dead". When you drain it out you're starting all over with the whole process.
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Oak Hillbilly

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2017, 05:56:05 AM »

Thanks everyone for your responses...

From what I've seen checking nitrates, electrical conductivity and ph every season will save a lot of treatment. Once the water is treated and has "oxidized away" any free oxygen it's basically "dead". When you drain it out you're starting all over with the whole process.
Talked to Brian at P & M and E Yoder is right on...  not a great idea to drian your boiler.  I will instead be installing a filter and will continue to keep sending my water samples to make sure everything looks good.

Thanks again
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Super44

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2017, 07:25:38 AM »

What kind of filter set up are you thinking of?  I have wondered about doing the same thing.
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mlappin

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2017, 11:06:47 AM »

Not sure if a filter is really necessary, I do however run strainers ahead of the flat plates.
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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2017, 09:48:38 AM »

Something like a Rusco spin down filter should take out a lot smaller stuff than a strainer. I would go with a 3/4" and put a 1" bypass loop around it (always open). that way, when it starts getting plugged it wouldn't restrict flow.
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aarmga

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2017, 08:37:13 PM »

From what I've seen checking nitrates, electrical conductivity and ph every season will save a lot of treatment. Once the water is treated and has "oxidized away" any free oxygen it's basically "dead". When you drain it out you're starting all over with the whole process.

Any instructions on how to test electrical conductivity??  I have an 8 foot ground rod buried with a 6 gauge wire attached to the bottom plate of the boiler.
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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2017, 02:24:58 AM »

I'll ask Heatmaster how they do it. They're testing how easily electrical current travels through the water. You can get E C meters... Not sure if that's what they use.
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mlappin

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Re: Should I drain water out of my boiler at the end of burning season???
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2017, 08:19:22 AM »

From what I've seen checking nitrates, electrical conductivity and ph every season will save a lot of treatment. Once the water is treated and has "oxidized away" any free oxygen it's basically "dead". When you drain it out you're starting all over with the whole process.

I’m moving down to a G200, the 400 is just overkill now, I’ll drain the water out of the 400 into one of those 275 gallon plastic totes and pump it back into the 200 instead of starting over.



Any instructions on how to test electrical conductivity?? I have an 8 foot ground rod buried with a 6 gauge wire attached to the bottom plate of the boiler.

Same here, nothing mentioned in doing so in the install instructions, but from years of living on a dairy farm, then working on a lot of 240 and 480 three phase, no such thing as too many mechanical grounds, especially when liquids are involved.
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