Should I drain the boiler in the summer?

Should you drain a steam boiler for the summer—or fill it completely with water? Ask three boiler technicians and you may get three different answers. In this video, Ray Wohlfarth, the Boiler Room Detective, explains the three common ways to handle a steam boiler during a summer shutdown: doing nothing, wet layup, and dry layup. The real enemy is oxygen. When a steam boiler sits idle, oxygen and moisture can lead to corrosion, pitting, rust, and premature boiler failure. In this video, you'll learn: • Why oxygen causes corrosion inside steam boilers • What happens when you simply shut the boiler off for summer • How a wet layup works • Why some technicians flood a steam boiler during the off-season • When dry layup may be the better choice • Why an empty boiler isn't necessarily a dry boiler • Why manufacturer recommendations should always be your starting point • What maintenance should be done before a summer shutdown Whether you're a boiler technician, building engineer, maintenance professional, facility manager, or homeowner with steam heat, understanding proper steam boiler summer shutdown procedures can help extend the life of your boiler and prevent expensive problems in the fall. Subscribe to Boiler Room Detective for practical steam boiler troubleshooting, hydronic heating, boiler maintenance, combustion, and boiler room safety tips. #SteamBoiler #BoilerMaintenance #SteamHeat