Scalebreak® quickly removes deposits like lime, scale and rust that otherwise drastically reduce efficiency, increase expenses and damage to vital components.

Tips & tricks
Created:
Last Updated:
Boiler

The first in our series, Cleaning With ScaleBreak®, we are outlining the steps for cleaning boilers with ScaleBreak.

When descaling a boiler, you will first need to visit our boiler calculation tool at www.goodway.com/resources/calculators#!/boiler-scalebreak. Here you will be able to obtain the proper amount of ScaleBreak and circulation time. The information in the tool will allow you to adjust the amount of ScaleBreak needed based on the thickness of scaling in your boiler.

Keeping your boiler clean with ScaleBreak from water formed deposits is essential to efficient operation. You can visit our boiler efficiency calculation tool at https://www.goodway.com/resources/calculators#!/boiler-efficiency to see how much added costs your facility is paying due to scale deposits. Seasonal cleanings of your boiler will give you a payback in reduced gas/oil consumption through clean and efficient operation.

  1. Allow the boiler to cool to ambient temperatures.
  2. Close all valves and isolate the boiler.
  3. Place a ball valve on the low point of the boiler, the location you plan to pump into.  This valve can be closed to avoid flood back should you need to shut your pump system down during the cleaning.
  4. Attach the hose coming from your pump to this ball valve.
  5. Attach your return hose to the highest point possible on the boiler (relief valve) to ensure the entire wetted surfaces will come in contact with the cleaning solution.  Please note: if the best return point available is lower than the body of the boiler, extend the hose up over the top and this will bring the liquid level up in the boiler.
  6. Open your bottom valve and turn your pump on to circulate water and perform a hydrostatic test.  This action assures the boiler is isolated and none of the ScaleBreak will be needlessly lost.
  7. You will need to bleed off enough water equal to the volume of ScaleBreak required for the cleaning.  If you relieve too much water, you can add some back to complete your circulation loop.
  8. Water formed deposits will occupy volume, as a result, additional water may need to be added during the cleaning duration as deposits are dissolved. 
  9. Periodically check your isolation valves as they may have initially seated against scale.  As ScaleBreak dissolves the scale, this action will help you avoid losing product.   
  10. Circulate the ScaleBreak solution for the recommended timeframe as indicated by our calculation tool.
  11. During your ScaleBreak cleaning, you will want to make sure your solution remains active.  For this step, please follow our “Testing ScaleBreak’s Effectiveness” procedure.
  12. Once you have reached the recommended circulation time and your ScaleBreak solution has completed the job, you can begin your flushing process.
  13. Though ScaleBreak is a biodegradable solution, most facilities need to conform to pH discharge limits.  ScaleBreak Neutralizer can be utilized to safely elevate your pH to meet your discharge limit so it can be flushed to the drain.  Please follow the instructions for this process in the ScaleBreak Neutralizer information sheet.
  14. To flush your heat boiler, turn off your circulation pump, remove the return hose from your recirculation system and put it in a drain.
  15. Add a fresh water hose to your recirculation bucket on your pump system and turn the pump back on. 
  16. Continue running clean water through the boiler until the return water is running clear.  This action will also flush out your pump system.
  17. As an added safeguard you can reverse your hoses so you pump into the top and out the bottom.  This action will flush away any debris that may have settled out the bottom of the boiler. 
  18. Disconnect your hoses, close the valves you performed your circulation through and open the valves for the exchanger supply water.
  19. Your heat exchanger can now be returned to service.

Please note: 

  • Follow all local regulations for discharge.
  • Follow all plant personal protective equipment guidelines as determined by your health & safety team.
  • ScaleBreak formulas have very minimal corrosion rates, however, the application of ScaleBreak may reveal pre-existing under-deposit corrosion (UD). This type of corrosion can present itself in the form of pitting, pinholes or similar types of damage.

Please contact Goodway Technologies with any questions.