Best Of
Re: Smith 19A FA2003-59
I used to keep a coil of 5/8 in the van. Sure it was maybe too big for some applications but it worked in so many places where the seals were gone. I hated seeing jobs where the gaskets were replaced with gobs of furnace cement. If it seals you're good. But of course you often have to do as the lead says. Unless of course it's dangerous of a violation.
Grallert
Re: Steam condensate
How does water get into the pit? Is condensate from the system dumped directly into the pit (VERY bad idea) or is it taking water from the condensate receiver (grey tank with the pump on it)?
How does makeup water get into the system? What controls that?
What controls when water is transferred from the receiver to the boiler?
There are a number of ways this could happen. I really need to know more about the system…
I might add that if actual steam is appearing in there, you have at least one bad trap on the system…
On a Happy Note
I received this message this morning from someone who got help from this site:
mustela12:27AMit’s 20°f. It’s 10pm. I spent the day at the hospital 2 hrs away w my 85 yr old mom in the ER. I get home and it’s 50° inside and dropping.I try a couple things w the boiler that worked the last time. Nuthin. Called two different 24 hr service companies. No one returns my call. I google some more.I find a brief message you posted in Nov ‘23 in response to a guy having problem similar to mine. Check the condensate trap for blockage.I don’t even know how or why this would affect the pressure switch (and I found the manual pdf so I have a lot of reading to do!) but IT WORKED.Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Two hrs later no one’s returned my calls (yeah I bet it’s that kind of night) but that’s OK cuz we’re good!Did I say Thank You?
Ironman
Re: Lochinvar NKC150 hot water for only 30 seconds
Is the boiler firing during a call for domestic hot water? On the screen what is the temperature target. its the temperature in parenthesis
pedmec
Re: Main air vent possibly failed - Vent Rite 77 replacement
On cycles where the pipes are already warm the larger main venting will help the mains fill faster saving you fuel. This is true up to a point. Can't vent any faster than the open pipe.
Re: Boiler was low on water and now I refilled it
reluctantly? I go down there excitedly but no judgment 😅
Re: Cold 2nd & 3rd Floor Radiators
Thank you all very much for your very helpful advice!
In response to your comments & questions:
- I will have a think about the location of the main vent. Thank you very much for your helpful suggestions regarding how it could feasibly be installed.
- I have thought about re-piping the header using the proper materials. As it seems to be working and it is cost prohibitive at the moment to do so, I think I will hold off on this for a bit. It is in the back of mind though
- The steam main is approximately 30 feet long. I will measure the circumference later today or tomorrow and get back to you.
- I have checked to make sure all the supply valves at the radiators are open 100%. One of them actually wasn't, so I opened it all the way. Several of the supply valves are unfortunately completely stuck though. I presume they are stuck in the open position as the radiators get hot and there isn't any water hammer. I don't know how much pressure I can put on the supply valves to try to open/close them (if they are currently stuck). I don't want to break any of them.
- We're in southern Westchester County in New York State.
Thank you all again! I ordered the Lost Art of Steam Heating and my copy should be arriving today.
NY2024
Re: Merging steam mains, tilted traps and general nonsense
Put the rads up on blocks and pipe the traps right and rebuild them.
In the 7th picture down with the "double line" I would suggest that maybe the steam comes in from the right and feeds the tee, then elbows around and goes back in the chase.
If the steam in that smaller line is flowing the way you suggest with the 2-elbow riser it would hammer like crazy and hold water I would think unless it is dripped somewhere.
It's easy to get mixed up tracing pipe when you can't see the whole thing.
Not saying you couldn't be right, look what they did with the traps.
Re: Ice cold fuel - like bad as I’ve ever seen - pics attached
On a weekly top off schedule. Or some call it the crowely “keep full” schedule. But it’s filled weekly. It was -41F the day before. So it’s been pretty darn cold.
gator