Blodgett SN-5E - Manual (Page 7)

7
DRAIN CONNECTIONS
The drain connection must be 1" IPS vertically down, preferably with one elbow only, and
maximum length of 6 feet, piped to an open air gap type drain.
FIGURE 2
CAUTION: In order to avoid any back pressure in the steamer, DO NOT
connect solidly to any drain connection.
WATER CONDITIONING
It is important that the water supply connected to this steamer be softened to no more than 2.0
grains of hardness and have a pH of 6 to 7.5. This degree of hardness can be easily obtained
with the use of properly maintained water softener. The use of a water meter will determine the
water consumption and when the water softener needs regeneration or recharging. Failure to
comply with these water condition standards may void the warranty.
Untreated water contains scale producing minerals which can precipitate onto the surfaces in
the steam generator. Due to the temperatures in the steam generator, the minerals can bake
onto the surfaces and components. This can result in early component failure and reduced
product life.
Mineral scale on components causes several problems:
1. The surfaces of the heating devices become coated with scale, reducing the heat transfer
efficiency. This can produce hot spots on the heating elements and result in premature
failure.