| Author |
Message |
    
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1591
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 4:25 pm: | 
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17 years ago we replaced our boiler. We replaced it again two years ago because it was using lots of water. The plumber told us it had cracked. There was no evidence of water anywhere. Now we have a new boiler and it still needs to be filled more than once a week. There are no obvious places that water or steam is leaking. Master Plumber, do you want to tackle this detective job? Anyone else have any suggestions? |
Grrrrrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Oldsctls67
Post Number: 332
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 5:50 pm: |
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are any of the valves on any of your radiators expelling lots of steam? Every now and then I'll hear the one in my bedroon go off like a train whistle. THat's my clue to go down and check the water level. |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 491
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 7:11 pm: |
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Yes, I would like to check it out.
I should also add that one of the frequent posters on this forun is having a similar problem and for the first time in memory, I just can't figure it out.
Losing water, system seems tight everywhere, and she's filling the boiler every day.
I know I'll get it eventually, but right now, I'm being pulled in lots of directions.
I would all but eliminate your two-year-old boiler from blame and take it from there.
Jeffl, when your boiler was replaced, did the problem go away for any length of time?
Master Plvmber |
Dennis J O'Neill
Citizen
Username: Plungy
Post Number: 5
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 8:45 pm: |
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Often a steam boiler may be rotted through on top, above the waterline. You wouldn't notice a leak because the water is going up the chimney in the form of steam. Let the boiler cool a little and fill it to the top. Till the guage glass is full and a little more, then watch at the base of the boiler for leaks and listen for dripping. If you notice a leak it's probably curtains for the poor boiler.
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jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1592
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 11:13 pm: |
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The problem certainly improved with the new boiler, i.e. we went from filling it every few day to every week or two. Now I'm back to every few days. Sometimes I hear a valve "go off", but not for long. It quiets down quickly.
MP - should I just give your shop a call and leave you my phone number and address? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6845
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 12:40 am: |
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Interesting. We have always had to fill the boiler a couple times a week (more during prolonged cold snaps). We've rebuilt almost every part of our furnace, just replaced the fire box and all the radiator valves. Our plumber (and the oil company) have checked it out several times. No leaks, etc.
I just ignore it, fill it & hope that it holds up a few more years. |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 492
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 8:13 am: |
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jeffl, Yes, please do.
Just click on my name for our information.
Master Plvmber |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 493
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 8:43 am: |
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Dennis J. O'Neill, unfortunately we've done that and yet no leak has presented itself.
I suspect it is not a single leak but several small ones.
I'll find it (them).
The last thing I want to do is tell someone to buy a new boiler if they don't need one.
Master Plvmber |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1593
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 8:58 am: |
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http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?threadid=98889
MP, check out this thread, especially the last post. I went to that site and look at the first name that comes up for zip code 07040...you! |
tjohn
Supporter
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 4115
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 10:18 am: |
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Here's my theory and basis for the theory.
I have to add water to my boiler approximately two times per winter. My boiler rarely shuts off due to pressure and rarely even fully heats the radiators in a couple of guest rooms where I have very slow vents.
What I suspect happens is that in many homes, the boiler builds up a bit of pressure (couple of PSI) and forces steam out through various joints that are otherwise tight. I know that on my system, in those rare cases where the entire system is hot and pressure starts to build, steam starts to escape from a couple of cracks that are normally tight.
I believe that if all boilers had very well calibrated pressure shutoffs that maintained a pressure between .5 and 1 PSI, many systems would lose less water. |
Dennis J O'Neill
Citizen
Username: Plungy
Post Number: 6
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 10:20 am: |
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Nor would I MP. If you are on the job this gentleman has no worries! Peace. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1784
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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I am the frequent poster with the boiler problem...seeing lots of my friends from Gateway.
Will let you know how it goes. John and Dave, fyi, one of the radiators in my bedroom (by the bike) "goes off" periodically so maybe that's a trouble spot.
Anyone else who wants to come over and solve the mystery of my boiler -- which is only a year old, has no leaks, return piping has been replaced, etc. -- PL me and come on by. I'm buying the beers. |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1172
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:38 am: |
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I need to fill my new boiler every 2-3 weeks. I'd like to know why, but it's not a big enough problem to warrant spending time on...I've got lots of others to keep me busy |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 336
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 10:25 am: |
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I had a leaky radiator valve and severely unbalanced vents. We were constantly running out of water in the boiler... the colder the quicker (of course). MP replaced the valve and gave some advice on balancing the vents ourselves. I wanted him to do it but he recommended DIY as more cost effective and better to understand your own system. Hats off to him for that advice, it was not that difficult once we had a basic understanding of what was going on.
After some experimentation and additional reading, and a couple of academic differences in thermodynamic theory between my wife and me that were resolved by trial and error, we have what I would call a nicely balanced system and I have added water to the system I think once so far this winter.
I think tjohn may be on to something. One thing I notice is if we let the temp drop too low overnight, then kick it back up in the morning, if the boiler fires for too long, the pressure builds and we start getting a little bit of hissing. Hey, that hissing is too much pressure and probably letting out some of the system's moisture as well. When it's running properly the boiler should be cycling properly, I believe burn time is optimized generally around 20-40 minutes on. Off time would depend on outside temps, insulation / drafts, etc. -- ie how quickly the internal temp drops again.
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mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 303
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 12:47 pm: |
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Here is a possibility. I know of a furnace problem similar, losing water with no indication of where the leak could be. It baffled several plumbers. Finally got a correct diagnosis and fixed it easily. The problem was in a steam pipe that was unexplainably routed outside of the house to service an addition. The pipe was cracked OUTSIDE of the house and that is why there was no interior indication. Strange, but true. |
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