Drain boiler for long term inactivity

[rtc35]

I'm just wondering what the implications are for draining my boiler for an unknown length of time. It's about 15 years old, running perfectly fine, but we heat with wood now and I keep it on just to maintain it's own internal temperature so the gaskets don't shrink. Are there other considerations or complications with draining it completely for an extended period? Will parts rust, shrink, seize, etc?

Thanks

[jadnashua]

Unless there's a freeze potential, keep the water in it. Fresh water will contain minerals, oxygen, and potentially some organic material. Once it sits inside the boiler for a long time, the oxygen is used up, the minerals tend to deposit themselves, and the water becomes more inert. Replacing it with fresh, starts that all over again. I'd check the pH, and if it's neutral, just leave it alone.

Curious what the pros have to say on this, though.

[BadgerBoilerMN]

I couldn't have said it better. Other than to remind our wood enamoured friend to fire up the old boiler once a year for a few hours as he would a car just to give all the parts a bit of exercise and confirm that the backup boiler works. If there is freeze potential (we are often called out for fin-tube baseboard freeze-ups when the new fireplace is left on too long or the "setback" thermostat turns off the boiler and circulator on the coldest night of the year). I costs about $25.00 a year to run the circulator full time and very hard to freeze flowing water.