Radiators and steam heat ready for the summer

This is probably a silly question, but what do those of you with with steam heat do with your systems once spring rolls around? Is there anything I need to do to get it ready to "sleep" for the summer? It seems like flushing the water one last time, then powering down the switch may be a good way to go, but my experience with steam is pretty nonexistent. Thanks for any info!

That pretty much covers it.

Make sure you get it serviced over the summer, too.

You do not want to add fresh water to the boiler to let it sit for the summer without running it. You want to run it to remove oxygen so it is less corrosive to the boiler. We do most of our boiler service jobs late September and on. It's better to check and make sure there is not problems before it gets to cold.

Phil Mausucci Plumbing. 973-763-8420

Philtheplumber.net 

My plumbing/heating contractor says that the best time to do the annual service/cleaning is during the first few weeks of heating season, after it has been running regularly for a week or two.  (Of course, do a test start-up earlier in fall, just in case it won't come on at all, so you can call them earlier if needed.)

Other theories/rationales?

Phil posted the best info in MHO.  I'd add to that to turn off the gas if you have an old pilot light system.  

I have also used the time to do a cleaning and scaling, even a skim if I had any repairs done or saw any signs of surging.  I always use a water conditioner even though the 'Real' plumbers tell me that anything more than plain water is a waste and I filled it to the top of the glass rather than at the line.  This way the season long rust line is fully covered and any rust at the water line will be in a newer part of the boiler and not down in the working part.

Then like Phil said run it to burn out the Oxygen then put it to bed.

But, I know that this is over kill for most people.

Later,

Da

The UPS Store

George

jgberkeley said:

Phil posted the best info in MHO.  

Sounds pretty consistent with what my guy said if you take it to mean not to fill it at the end of the season, which I'm sure I never do as it wouldn't be running low then.  (I rarely fill it unless the low water cutoff has kicked in or appears about to do so and that doesn't happen very often these days since we had our plumber do a fairly extensive tour of all of our radiators to work on the valves, leveling, etc.) 

THX

Hello, can you all recommend your plumbing, heating contractor? We are looking get our steam heat radiators checked and ready for the season.

Thank you!

We use Gateway Plumbing. We've found them to be professional, very responsive (they come over quickly when we have an emergency - or what we think is one) and a pleasure to deal with. They also advertise on MOL.

Sweetsnuggles said:
We use Gateway Plumbing. We've found them to be professional, very responsive (they come over quickly when we have an emergency - or what we think is one) and a pleasure to deal with. They also advertise on MOL.

+1. They also participate in www.heatinghelp.com

Great site if you're into self-help.

Tip: PSE&G offers a low-cost service contract. Doesn't include maintenance, but good for emergencies or even minor problems. (They have one for water heaters, too.)