[binski720]

Over the last several months we have lost our hot water pressure in all of our showers and sinks. My neighbor said that he changed his coil in his boiler about 4 years ago because of the same problem. I know we have a hard water problem which I just bought a water softener which I am going to install this weekend. I have plumbed houses before but have never worked with a boiler system. Does anyone have any ideas before I replace the coils??

From what he said, because of the hard water the calcium built up in the coil and restricted the flow. It makes sense but I've been reading about the expansion tank and some valves that would be easier to replace.

Thanks for your advice!!

Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,

[speedball1]

From what he said, because of the hard water the calcium built up in the coil and restricted the flow. It makes sense

It sure sounds like the furnace coil should be replaced first.

but I've been reading about the expansion tank and some valves that would be easier to replace.

What about them? A expansion thank won't increase your volume/pressure and since you've lost pressure all over the entire house what valve would you change first?
Start with the furnace coil and go from there. Good luck, Tom

[binski720]

Here's what I did. I am not telling any one to do this but it worked great and for only $40.00. I cut the pipes leading to the boiler, The cold inlet and the hot water oulet and installed shut off valves. I then cut the lines and put two tee's with hose connections. I used a drill pump and pumped muriatic acid through the coil in the boiler and couldn't believe all the sediment that came out. This was a chance I took because someone said it would work and it did. You have to be verry careful when using this acid. I had a full face shield and checical gloves on when pumping it through the boiled. If anyone wants pictures of what I did let me know and I can send them to you.

Hope this helps someone!!

[mbuttorf]

This is it!! It is the answer to hard water build up in boiler heat!!

[yourdeadmeat69]

Muriatic acid dissolves the PIPE freeing the deposits. It weakens the structure of the pipe, and for my money, sounds extremely risky.

Would you run muriatic acid through a vintage car engine to release the sludge by "dissolving" a part of the engine?

I would think you have to be very thorough and very lucky to have this work.

[massplumber2008]

Sorry yourdeadmeat, but you are misinformed... ;)

Please read this article... should clear up the confusion:

The Effects of Muriatic Acid & Copper | eHow.com

Muriatic acid (i.e. hydrochloric acid) is a perfect acid for the application of cleaning out tankless coils... been doing it over 30 years and have NEVER had any problems.

Mark