CORROSION PREVENTION
How to prevent corrosion in your outdoor boiler.
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Corrosion Prevention
The EZBoiler Stove Outdoor Furnace is made out of mild steel which will corrode if left untreated and unprotected.
The following are five basic steps to maintain your stove and extend its life:
Grounding Rod
A properly installed grounding rod system will protect people from electric shock, help safeguard expensive electronic equipment, prevent electrolysis, limit neutral-to-ground voltage and satisfy the NEC along the way. Use only a 4GA or larger wire with proper grounding clips. Grind paint away where you attach it to the stove in order to get a solid electrical connection.
Anode Rod
Anode rods are commonly used in hot water heaters to prevent rusting of the water tank. They are designed to neutralize the corrosive electrons that develop in the water. They are also called “sacrificial anode rods” because they corrode away instead of having your water tank corrode. Anode rods work for an outdoor boiler as well. The easy way to install one on your Ezboilers stove is to add a tee fitting to the stove’s drain port, install the anode rod straight into the water jacket, then add your drain shutoff valve on the side of the tee. When you drain and flush your stove once per year, it’s a simple matter to remove the anode rod for inspection, and replace it if necessary. We recommend magnesium anode rods. They work well with our nitrite anti-corrosive water treatment. Remember that the sludge from the deteriorated anode rod needs to be flushed out when you drain the stove in the Spring. Lifting the front of the stove slightly with a jack will help ensure that any gunk will drain out.
Sodium Nitrite
The sodium nitrite treatment is specially formulated to decrease corrosive build-up. Once a year during the off season, when the EZ Boiler is not in use, drain and flush the water jacket and refill it with water and a unit of sodium nitrite. Fill the water jacket completely to the top of the vent at this time so that all surfaces of the water jacket will be covered during the off season. This will help prevent rust and corrosion from attacking the top of the water jacket during the idle off season period. If significant amounts of water need to be replenished during the heating season, add enough additional sodium nitrite to maintain protective levels.
Coals and Ash
Pull the ash and coals to the front of the firebox before loading. Be sure to get right down to the firebox metal. This will improve heat transfer to the water jacket and reduce creosote build-up which could lead to creosote corrosion. Make it your daily practice to move the sides of the ash pile where it touches the firebox as well. An undisturbed ash line would allow creosote to build up in one spot, leading to corrosion. It is the number 1 cause of firebox failure. Empty old ashes periodically as needed.
Off Season
Cover the chimney to prevent rain water from getting inside the firebox. Clean out all the ashes and optionally coat the exposed metal with a light coating of oil. This will prevent the firebox from rusting in the off season.
Outdoor Boiler Anti-Corrosion Chemical Treatment
You MUST drain your boiler once per year and add fresh water and anti-corrosion treatment. Remember, failure to do so voids the warranty. We fully recommend the following products. The manufacturer warns that the chemicals only have a 2-year shelf life, so don’t order too much at one time.
Wood Boiler Treatment, 1 quart = $50.00. Treats up to 200 gallons.
Premature failure of a firebox is almost always caused by incorrect routine maintenance. It is absolutely vital that you avoid letting the ashes build up undisturbed, especially in the rear and the sides of the firebox. Creosote will build up on top of that ash line, and eat through the steel eventually.
It only takes minutes per week to move those ashes and scrape the firebox to prevent a build-up. Combine that with a thorough cleaning at the end of the heating season, and your stove will easily last 20 years or more.
Here is a 10-year-old Ridgewood stove that was brought to our shop to be repaired. It proved to be unrepairable due solely to neglect. The firebox had about an inch of rock-hard ashes coating the bottom third. Besides the damage that causes to the firebox, that build up of ash acts as an insulator and reduces the stove’s efficiency. The chimney had also been neglected, and was rusting out where it attaches to the firebox. You MUST check the caulking around the chimney every year. You MUST move the ashes around during the heating season. You MUST completely clean the ashes out at the end of the heating season. With proper maintenance, this stove would have lasted another 8 to 10 years.
Front Plate Replacement On Old Stove