Instructions / Assembly

ManualsBrandsHercules ManualsFireplace Accessories32 oz. High Temperature Furnace Cement

number. Read the boiler’s installation and operation

manual to determine the acceptable pH range.

Next, test the system. You can buy test strips that

provide a color-coded readout. If you need a more

precise reading for an aluminum system, use a digital

pH meter.

If the pH level is off:

• Drain about a gallon of liquid from the boiler and

dispose of it.

• Fill a container with a quart of corrosion inhibitor,

such as Hercules

Sludgehammer™ Universal

Corrosion Inhibitor, and 3 quarts of fresh water.

Pump it back into the system and allow it to circulate

for about a half-an-hour.

• Test again. Usually, a single dose of inhibitor does

the job, but if the reading is still too low, repeat the

process.

Discard sludge.

If the rst liquid sample in your visual reading contains

rust or sludge, you must take a more aggressive

approach. Sludge indicates corrosion in the heat

exchanger, ttings or piping.

To remove sludge:

• Drain off about a gallon of liquid and replace it with

3 quarts of water and 1 quart of a system restorer

like Hercules

Sludgehammer™ System Restorer &

Noise Reducer, which removes scaling and sludge

deposits.

• Let the solution circulate for two hours.

• After 2 hours of cycling, dump the system. Leaving

the chemical in for too long can damage metal

pipes and ttings and ruin the heat exchanger. Then,

rell the system with a blend of water and inhibited

virgin propylene glycol to prevent corrosion and

scale buildup inside the heat exchanger and piping

system. Always reference the boiler manufacturer’s

installation and operation manual to ensure you are

using the proper blend.

Add antifreeze.

Many contractors only use water in indoor heating

systems. However, water freezes at 32 degrees and

can cause pipes to burst if there’s a power outage.

Water also promotes corrosion and buildup. Adding

an inhibited virgin propylene glycol antifreeze to a

boiler corrects for those problems and provides freeze

protection. Installing inhibited virgin propylene glycol

into the hydronic system is also a requirement to

maintain warranty by leading boiler manufacturers.

The type of antifreeze you’ll need to use depends on

the climate and the metal content of the system.

• For cast iron, stainless steel or copper systems,

choose an antifreeze solution like Hercules

Cryo-

Tek™ AG, -100, Original or Universal.

• For systems with aluminum heat exchangers, the

best choice is an antifreeze that works with any type

of metal, such as Hercules

Cryo-Tek™ Universal.

• Depending on the level of freeze protection required

to have an effective and efcient operating system,

you can choose blends like Cryo-Tek™ AG or

Universal and blend them with distilled water to

arrive at the proper freeze protection, or buy pre-

blended formulas like -100 or Original.

The active ingredient of antifreeze is propylene

glycol. Avoid antifreeze products that contain “used”

propylene glycol, which may introduce minerals and

other foreign particles to the boiler. Look for a label that

reads “inhibited virgin propylene glycol.”

Conduct annual checkups.

Without proper maintenance, boilers corrode and

become less efcient, leading to additional service calls

and a shorter life span for the appliance. Replacing a

boiler is very expensive, costing thousands of dollars.

Homeowners can save money long-term by having

a boiler serviced annually. The best time to do it is just

before the start of the cold weather season. Spending a

little money every year will maximize the life of the boiler

and prolong a big expenditure.

assumes no liability arising out of its use. The data listed falls within the normal range of product properties but should not be used to establish speciﬁcation limits or used

alone as the basis of design. Oatey’s liability to purchasers is expressly limited to the terms and conditions of sale. Oatey is a trademark of Oatey Co. All other trademarks can

be found on www.oatey.com.

Cleveland, OH 44135 | 800.321.9532 | Oatey.com

BOILER MAINTENANCE