After a steam boiler is installed does the water require cleaning even if it look clean?
Yes, after the installation of a steam boiler there will be plenty of oil in the water between manufacturing and installation. This will cause surging of the water which is a violent bouncing of the water while steaming. This causes the water to leave the boiler out of the supply tapings. This is resolved by skimming the boiler. Skimming will remove the oil from the surface of the water. The oil is lighter than the water so it floats on top of the water. The steam has a difficult time breaking through the oil but when it does it leaves at a rapid speed. The velocity increases as it finds the supply tapping and heads up the pipe. This creates a suction and pulls boiler water up with it. Some water goes to the header and a lot of it falls back into the boiler thus the rise and falling of the water level. Skimming is getting the water warm but not steaming, and draining the surface of the water off to a bucket or drain. A small amount of water will need to be added back in while skimming.
