I just got a house with steam boiler heat . I have winterize all the plumbing except for the boiler. How to I go about it
A steam boiler has very little water in it compared to a hot water boiler. First you need to find the drain fitting at the bottom of the boiler vessel. Open it and let any water drain out. Next, there should be a fitting that looks like a pigs tail that the guage and /or pressure switches are hooked to. This needs to be drained out. This has water in it for a trap to protect the guages and switches from steam. Next, locate all the steam traps and drain them. Most have drain fitting on the to let the water out. Check the radiators in the rooms and make sure they are drained also. Shut off the gas and power to the boiler and leave all the fittings that you opened open. If you are not sure, you can use compressed air to blow out any water remaining in the return lines and boiler vessel itself. Hope this helped! Good luck!
I and everyone in our area has steam or hot water boilers, you don't winterize them, at least I've never heard of it and haven't in forty years of building trades. It always on with a demand system automatic lighting system. You may have to let pressure out of the radiators once in a while but, other then this, there's nothing to do with it. Keep it clean?
You can drain all the water out of the boiler tank but it isnt a wise idea because the tank will rust and develope scale which will cause problems later when you want to use it again. You need to call the maintenance manager at one of your local manufacturing company's and ask if he or she can recommend someone who services steamboilers in your area. Im sure that they will be happy to give you the information. When you get a number for the service company call them and purchase enough boiler line anti freeze to fill your steam boiler. When you fill the boiler with anti freeze remember to drain it and replace the water before you use the boiler again
