Print

[Pit Crew]

Shut my boiler down yesterday and I`m going to drain and refill this year (3 seasons on it) Has anyone done a carboard burn with the water drained to help remove the creasote from the inside? Good or bad idea?  Also need two gallons of rust inhibitor. Where to buy and what should I pay.

[AirForcePOL]

You never want to fire a boiler without water in it.  It could cause a lot of damage to your unit.  As far as the inhibitor goes, have you asked your dealer what they recommend?

[U.P. Doug]

I filled mine with cardboard when the boiler had been off for a week and the water was 60 degrees, You will be amazed at how fast it gets to temp and beyond when it is full of water. I had to turn both fans on my garage heater on, and turn the thermostat up just to keep it around 190. I did burn a pick up truck full of folded cardboard and it did a nice job of cleaning. I would say never fire it without water and the pump running.

[Pointblank]

You definitely don't want to fire it without water . Your central boiler dealer will have the corrosion inhibitor. Dont forget to pick up a water test kit if yours is old if you dont have one. I've found the purple dye can go bad after a few years, and you'll want to test the water after the refill.

[LittleJohn]

I would not dump water until fall, you do not want fresh water (even with inhibitors) sitting in a OWB all summer.  IMO

At least if you refill in the fall, you can have your pumps on circulating to mix and dont have to worry about leaving pumps on all summer. 
...well good luck and hope all goes well

[Pit Crew]

Why would leaving the old water in all summer be better than new all summer?

[slimjim]

As long as you leave the circs running long enough to mix the new treatment properly, it should not matter, be sure to check your water after the circs have thoroughly mixed the treatment in and adjust accordingly, two to three days should be fine

[LittleJohn]

Why would leaving the old water in all summer be better than new all summer?

...because all the crud and minerals in the "old/dead" water have already been some what depleted.  If you put fresh water in, even with inhibitors, that is a lot of highly oxygenated water you have, just sitting there and will have to deal with and we all know that when that combination just sits it will cause rust.

[Pit Crew]

Would it hurt anything to drain and leave empty for the summer?

[Crow]

 Don't recommend that either Pit Crew, the exposed metal will rust.