On Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:09:18 -0800 (PST), Mikepier
wrote:




I always thought it was not a good idea to add anything to the boiler.
I even heard flushing out the boiler and adding new water is bad cause
it adds more oxygen, which means more corrosion.

Adding water does add oxygen. Chemical treatment though, on some
boiler is a must. If it is a cast iron boiler and you have good
water, treatment is probably not needed. The Weil McLain section
boilers are rather hardy that way. If it is a water tube or fire
tube boiler, treatment may be needed. Industrial boilers are treated
and chemical balance is checked every day to be sure it is correct.

If you have a preheat tank, be sure the temperature is up as high as
possible as it helps get rid of oxygen. You may want to add an oxygen
scavenger too.

Boilers should be blown down on occasion to remove accumulated solids
and to check the operation of automatic shut-off devices.

You may want to check with an experience steam boiler operator or
treatment specialist to see what you really need. You can even take
courses for the operation of steam boilers, but they are geared
towards the industrial type of boiler, much more complex that an
apartment building, but still the same basics apply.