Best Of

Thanks for the commentary…

Regarding water level "does not look too high" - I was trying to say it is not above the water level mark on the side of the boiler enclosure when the hammering occurs. During the non-heating cycle the level typically is somewhat below this line by several inches (like the pic above where you are seeing evidence of oil), though several times I have seen it resting above the water level mark. During heating the level fluctuates less than one inch a couple of times or so per second. It doesn't appear to me to be violent fluctuation (i.e., no water splashing in the gauge) but I am a novice at this. My boiler tech told me it is to be expected during heating. This behavior is very similar now as it was with the old piping. Boiler is early '90s, though I can't vouch for how the earlier owners took care of it.

Drain cycle: 2 different boiler techs have told me a weekly drain until the low water switch activates is a good thing, and I have also read it is a good thing. However I have also read about dangers of too much fresh water addition. Reading more carefully I see a probe-type switch mainly needs a yearly cleaning, and this McDonnell switch seems to be just that. So I will have to interrogate the tech about that next time I talk to him.

Best regards, Steve

There is a huge difference between an 007 and an 0010, but if you already had an 007 doing okay for 20 years, it's probably okay. With that said, short cycling using that tank still indicates a lack of heat transfer which could be a dirty exchanger an air bubble, or several other possibilities.

Never heard of "Green Mountain Makes" Must be a Vermont boiler LOl