Strange Short Cycling Problem

SteveJones

I have a 2 zone system. The main floor and 2nd floor are one zone on a one-pipe steam system. The basement has hot water baseboard heat off of the same steam boiler. For the past few days each time the basement thermostat calls for heat for the baseboard, it first kicks on the circulator (normal), then a moment later it fires the boiler. The boiler will run for about 10 seconds or so, then shut off. I don't think it needs to be / should be firing the boiler most of the time because its usually already hot. Any ideas? Everything work fine, heats up etc. Just constantly short cycling when the hot-water baseboard needs heat. HELP!

Thanks in advance!

Al Letellier_9

short cycling

> I have a 2 zone system. The main floor and 2nd

> floor are one zone on a one-pipe steam system.

> The basement has hot water baseboard heat off of

> the same steam boiler. For the past few days

> each time the basement thermostat calls for heat

> for the baseboard, it first kicks on the

> circulator (normal), then a moment later it fires

> the boiler. The boiler will run for about 10

> seconds or so, then shut off. I don't think it

> needs to be / should be firing the boiler most of

> the time because its usually already hot. Any

> ideas? Everything work fine, heats up etc. Just

> constantly short cycling when the hot-water

> baseboard needs heat. HELP!

>

> Thanks in

> advance!

Al Letellier_9

short cycling

Hate to use this answer for you, but it depends.....on how the system is wired, how the relay that starts the pump is connected, what aquastat is being used to keep the boiler warm, what the aquastat differential is, and so on.....You just be catching the aquastat at or just above its "make" point, but why only a ten second run?? Have a pro check it out.