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Re: How to raise water level for off season ?
A simple way to do this without messing with the valves… start with a washing machine double female hose connected to the boiler drain. Hook it to a garden hose to a spigot. Open up the both valves until you get the desired level. Steam is an open system so no pressure build up to worry about.
Steve
Re: Sizing Boiler Using DOE Booklet 25 Years Ago - What Went Wrong?
Not offended at all, Just took some time to get the context of the issue. The way it was presented sounded like you had an old boiler from 25 years ago that was sized by an old IBR calculation form. A few years ago you had the Utica installed to replace the 25 year old boiler because it leaked a few years ago. I find this happens a lot, that is why I like to draw diagrams so I get the big picture. And it only took 4 days this time. Not bad for this old guy who is losing his marbles. I remember taking 9 months to get a DIY to get the picture when rewiring his air handler to accommodate a Hydronic hot water coil in his ductwork for heating.
Now with the full picture, it makes sense. With the advancing age, my legs are always freezing. I set my air conditioning thermostat to 78° and my feet are still freezing. When the girlfriend comes over, she needs to set it to 72° and I need to wear sweats to keep my legs from hurting. (what we do for our women).
So, the lowest cost thing to try is the thermostat in the cold bedroom idea. Do you know anyone that can do minor handyman jobs? That will be the easiest thing to try first. But at this time of year you will not know how effective that change will be until next December when it gets cold again. That will also give you more time to allocate some money and get estimates to repipe the boiler so all the energy that boiler makes can get to the rooms. As far as getting the large zone split in half(ish), that will be something that you can decide to do later. The Zoning Made Easy text book covers the problem with zone valves causing a restriction on page 17, HOW TO SIZE THE ZONE VALVES AND THE CIRCULATOR. It says that the normal 4 gallon per minute with a 3/4" pipe will be restricted to 3 GPM.
The old Hydrotherm boilers that were installed with that master control attached to the pipe used Electrozone valves that operated on DC voltage. Those valves also have a low Cv. so they restricted the water flow as stated on Page 17 in the textbook. When you removed those valves and installed the Honeywell valves with the higher Cv, the 3 GPM increased closer to 4 GPM, because there was less restriction. But if you look at the actual internal guts of the valve you can see that it is not full port, but full port or not the Honeywell fixed the issue in the large zone.
Since the smaller zones did not need more than 3 GPM, swapping the valve did nothing to solve the cold bedroom. The only thing that can solve the cold bedroom will be to add more radiators in that room. I say this because the way your system is piped, swapping the supply with the return will be a larger project than I originally thought.
Now when you add more radiator the the bedroom, you will need a plumber to drain the boiler, then add the 5 feet of radiator, then check for leaks, then fill the boiler and purge the air from the system.
If you decide to redesign the near boiler pipe to make the two 3/4" zones for the basement and the bedrooms get feed by a 1" supply pipe, the you will need a plumber to drain the boiler, then add the 1" pipe, then check for leaks, then fill the boiler and purge the air from the system.
Later if you feel the needed to replace the expansion tank and install it on the supply piping with the circulator pumping away from the expansion tank in order to eliminate air problems in your system, you will need a plumber to drain the boiler, then move the pump and replace the expansion tank, then check for leaks, then fill the boiler and purge the air from the system.
You can see a recurring theme where you are paying for a plumber to drain the boiler, then do a repair, then check for leaks, then fill the boiler and purge the air from the system. Four of these things are common to all the other jobs. and the time it takes to do those 4 jobs is not cheap. That is why I recommend doing all the wet upgrade jobs at the same time. Then you only need to drain the boiler, then check for leaks, then fill the boiler and purge the air from the system once. That will be a savings of thousands of dollars when compared to getting each job completed separately.
Re: Bosch combi only works without cover lid on
Birds and critters could nest is the air intake pipe You may need to clear it out… Add a stainless screen insert on the end off of both vents to prevent problem in the future …

Re: Boiler replacement
Feel free to send me a PM. Alternatively, you can contact by phone/text @0917-613-01930 or email steamdoctor313@gmail.com.
Re: Boiler replacement
Old and noisy, does not necessarily mean that you need to replace the boiler. And the glass is an easy repair. On the other hand, if moving the boiler is a priority, then go for it. All power burners are somewhat noisy. Atmospheric boilers, which is what you would use for The replacement, is almost whisper quiet. One of the benefits of replacing the boiler now, so that you get to do it on your own terms. Not when it's an emergency and desperate. Be very very careful of whom you hire. This is a big investment. Unfortunately, it is much easier to pipe a steam boiler incorrectly, then correctly. And incorrectly pipe boiler, can affect efficiency, comfort, and quality of life. Nothing like Hammer noises inside your radiators at 3:00 in the morning. Big company does not necessarily mean better installation. Do your due diligence and choose wisely. And of course pictures will be helpful and giving the wall a better idea of what's going on. There are variations within Steam heating systems. And most importantly, welcome aboard. You are very fortunate to have found heating help before the installation as opposed to afterwards.
Re: Help with short cycling on a Weil-McLain GV-5 Boiler
Have you ever had a professional maintenance service? it is on page 19-20 of the manual
You will need a meter that measures micro volts and micro amps for testing a flame signal. Not a normal tool for the homeowner. And I have rarely used one because I can usually find if the flame signal is there by other methods. If I suspect the flame signal is the problem, I clean the flame rod (not in your case because that boiler has no flame rod and uses the HSI for the flame sensor). ALSO the HSI is very fragile and will break if you try to clean it, The burner cone can be cleaned, and should be cleaned if there is a lot of debris or carbon build up on it. It should be replaced if there is any metal missing.
Another fix for a poor flame signal is to run a dedicated ground wire from the HSI mounting screw to the grounded mounting screw on the control. Look on the control for the mounting screw that has a metal connection the mounting screw touches.
Re: Tankless heater proximity to gas meter
Let's just go back to square one here.
@motomars , could you find the relevant section of the code? You said "[you've] read somewhere that the meter must have a 36 inch clearance to a combustion source". Words matter. A lot. is it the meter, or is it the regulator? If it is the meter, that's pretty unambiguous — and a tankless heater is indeed a combustion source. Since it does not apparently specify where on the meter the measurement is to be taken from, the only meaning (at least the one I would have enforced) is from the nearest point anywhere on the meter to the questionable clearance. Or, in simpler terms, there must be a clear distance from the ignition source — which I would have interpreted as anywhere on the tankless heater — to anywhere on the meter of at least that 36 inches.
Re: Tankless heater proximity to gas meter
The blocking distance seems clear cut enough given that you know where to measure from. The fire concern with the regulator being outside is what I'm unsure of. The regulator seems to be the primary fire concern and a 36" radius from the vent is very clear but maybe the meter itself is also a fire concern and for simple rules the distance is same, 36". 36" from the center of the supply pipe union connection or the meter body or any edge? The closest ignition source in a tank-less heater might be the pcb board relays on the far side 36" away where the measurement starts. Inspectors have discretion to look at it and ok what they determine meets the intents of code.

Re: Tankless heater proximity to gas meter
There are two completely different considerations here — which may be part of the confusion. The fire protection people are, understandably, concerned about the distance from a regulator vent to an ignition source. However, the meter regulation isn't concerned about ignition — it is concerned about maintenance.
As I read the initial the concern is about the distance from the meter to — in this case a tankless heater. Whether it's a tankless heater or not, as I read the code, makes no difference. You need three feet clearance around the meter. From anything except possibly a wall in back of it.
Re: Tankless heater proximity to gas meter
From my reading that outlet is considered an ignition source and must be 36" away from the meter. Any switch, relay, outlet or device with a spark igniter would be an ignition source. All the wording says "meter" and doesn't mention or differentiate from the regulator vent. On some diagrams the supply riser pipe seems to be the center from where 36" is measured and not the the meter or regulator itself. That said here's a picture provided by PG and E showing a 36" radius from the regulator vent outlet. Confusing. If your regulator is outside and the meter is inside there might be different rules. Check with a local authority is my advise.
