Boiler pH Treatment: Understanding the Role of Acidity in Boiler Operation

Your commercial boiler is arguably the most critical component of your building’s infrastructure. Did you know that the level of acidity of your boiler water can affect the boiler’s performance and longevity? Boiler pH treatment is a vital part of commercial boiler maintenance. Here’s what you need to know about pH, water treatment, and how proper treatment can add years to your boiler’s lifespan, and prevent catastrophic malfunctions like surging.

A Quick Review of pH

Measuring acidity and alkalinity

A lot of us tend to throw the term “pH” around, but if pressed for a definition, we’d be hard put to remember high school chemistry. So, let’s review what pH is, short for “potential of hydrogen.”

The pH of any substance is simply a measure of its strength as an acid. We use the pH scale to assess water, but it’s also used to evaluate food, personal care items, and soil, among other things. You don’t want something like a lotion to be too acidic, or it could burn your skin, for example. But if you want beautiful deep blue and purple hydrangea flowers in your garden, the more acidic the dirt, the better.

A pH of 7 is neutral. Zero is the most acidic end of the pH scale, while 14 is most alkaline.

Remember, the pH scale is logarithmic. So, each level on the scale is 10 times more or less acidic than the one next to it. If you have water with a pH of 5, it’s 10 times more acidic than water with a pH of 6.

What Should Your Commercial Boiler’s pH Be?

Aim for more alkaline water

We’ll discuss below why slightly alkaline boiler water is more desirable. But for now, know that the water in your tank that you use to heat water or radiator steam should generally have a pH of around 10 or 11. Sometimes, going as low as a pH of 8.5 is appropriate, but it depends on your unique conditions, your commercial boiler’s instructions, and the hardness of your water (how many minerals are in it).

Your boiler experts can help you determine the correct pH is once you determine the baseline with an easy test of your boiler’s automatic water feeder supply. Regular pH testing to ensure your boiler water remains at the right pH should be done once you treat the water to achieve the correct pH level. If you use modern automated boiler controls, pH monitoring may already be integrated into the system. The pH is checked, and the appropriate treatment is added when necessary, so you don’t have to worry about it or spend manpower making adjustments.

Boiler Water Treatment

Essential for pH and more

It’s easy today to get the pH level you prefer for your commercial boiler by adding chemicals to the water. These chemicals can not only help you achieve the desired pH, but they can also help remove unwanted impurities too.

What chemicals do we commonly use at Calray Boilers when treating commercial boilers around New York City?

  • – Potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide to increase alkalinity (reduce acidity) by reducing the production of carbon dioxide
  • – Phosphates to reduce water hardness by counteracting calcium compounds
  • – Sulfites (aka oxygen scavengers) to remove dissolved oxygen in an aerated water supply that contributes to corrosion
  • – Amines to improve the function and durability of steam return lines that trap condensate and send it back to the boiler for reheating

It’s worth noting that the pH of the water in your boiler tank may not be the same as the pH in your condensate return lines, so both should be tested.

How Does Boiler Water Treatment Extend Your Boiler’s Lifespan?

Preventing corrosion and worse problems

Achieving the right pH in your boiler tank is vital to prevent tank corrosion, which results in leaks, lost water, excessive boiler firing, and, eventually, premature replacement of the tank. If you’ve noticed pitting of the boiler tank, the water is probably too acidic and should be corrected immediately. Also, the same acidity is not healthy for other parts of your boiler system or your plumbing components. Fixing your pH level is good for more than just the boiler tank.

Most parts of New York City have slightly soft water, meaning it’s not overly full of mineral deposits. But some parts of the city, like areas of Queens, have hard water. Acidic water and hard water are a bad combination. The low pH of the water accelerates the formation of mineral scale that clogs pipes and boiler parts, which also hastens their demise.

In most cases that we see at Calray Boilers, water in the system is too acidic. But water that is too alkaline is no safer. It can cause a caustic attack that results in cracks and embrittlement of the boiler tank, also shortening its lifespan. High alkalinity, along with impurities in boiler water like oil or sediment, can also contribute to foaming. Foaming can, in turn, lead to poor steam production or even surging – that devastating roiling of boiler water that mandates shutting down the boiler before it’s ruined.

Do you have a regular water treatment plan for your building’s boiler? Is your commercial boiler overdue for pH testing? Is your boiler showing any of the signs indicating the water needs a pH adjustment? Calray Boilers can come out and help you with testing and water treatment for the proper pH. Don’t wait until your boiler malfunctions or you need to purchase a new one years before you should. Call us today at 212-722-5506 to schedule an appointment.


Our Privacy Policy

Omnia Mechanical Group(the “Company”) strives to ensure the highest standards for property listings and customer information privacy. Please review the following statement to learn about our company practices and policies. Please be aware that our Privacy Policy is subject to change at any time.

1. Purpose.

This Privacy Policy (“the Policy”) provides information on how the Company uses your personal information. By agreeing to the Policy, you agree to our collection and use of your personal information as described in the Policy. This Privacy Policy is effective for all new users of Sanitaryplumbing.com.

2. Personal Information.

You can browse some areas of omniagroup.nyc (“the Website”) without being a registered user. However, certain activities do require registration. (You consent to the transfer and storage of your information by registering with omniagroup.nyc).

3. Use of Information.

Our primary purpose in collecting personal information is to provide you with a safe and user-friendly experience. For example, the Company may use your personal information to:

  • Improve our services and the Website’s content and layout;
  • Provide the services and necessary customer support you request;
  • Resolve disputes, collect fees, and troubleshoot problems;
  • Track and record customer satisfaction with our services;
  • Protect the Company against error and fraud;
  • Inform you of special promotions and announcements;
  • Enforce our agreements, terms, conditions, and policies; and
  • As otherwise described to you at the time of collection.

We may occasionally ask you to complete optional surveys. These surveys are used to improve and customize your experience with Sanitaryplumbing.com.

The Company always provides you the ability to opt-out of further communication such as promotions and surveys; see the Opt-Out section below.

The Company does not share any of your personal information with outside organizations, companies, individuals, etc. The only exception to this standard is if such a disclosure is reasonably necessary to respond to any and all legal processes.

4. Links to Other Sites.

The Website may have links to other websites that may collect personally identifiable information about you. The Company is not responsible for the privacy practices of the content of those linked websites.

5. Safety & Security Precautions.

The Website has strict security measures in place to protect you and your information from fraud. Once your information is provided to Omnia Mechanical Group, we strive to ensure the confidentiality of your identity and information.

6. Opt-Out.

The Company provides you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving promotional and other non-essential, marketing-related communications from Omnia Mechanical Group. If you would like to opt-out of these select communications, please see any of the Company’s email communications and follow the directions indicated.

7. Account Protection.

Your password ensures the security of your account. When choosing a password, the Company suggests using various characters. It is highly recommended that you do not disclose your Sanitaryplumbing.com password to anyone. (If you do disclose your password or your personal information with others, you are responsible for all actions taken in the name of your account.) If the security of your password is compromised for any reason, please contact the Company immediately.

8. Accuracy of Information

The Company does not guarantee the accuracy of information for any and all of its properties on the Website, and is not responsible for any errors or misrepresentations (made by Renters, the Client, or otherwise).

9. Cookies

The Company may place a small cookie on your computer’s hard drive. This allows us to personalize your use on the Website. In order to maximize the functionality and usability of the Website, you must set your browser’s preferences to allow both permanent and temporary cookies.

10. Changing Your Personal Information.

Should your personal information change, please immediately update your information on the Website. This will ensure the accuracy of our records. The Company does retain personal information from closed accounts in order to comply with law and collect and disburse any fees owed.

11. Third Parties

This Privacy Policy addresses only the use of information we collect from you. Since omniagroup.nyc does not control the privacy policies of third parties, you are subject to the privacy policies of those third parties. It is advisable that you consult with the management of third parties before you disclose your personal information to others.

12. General

We may amend this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the amended terms on the Website. All amended terms are immediately effective after they are initially posted on the Website.

13. Privacy Policy Questions & Concerns

Questions and/or concerns regarding the Policy should be emailed to the following email address: info@omniagroup.nyc.