how much water should a steam system use

David Efflandt_2

Are your air vents functioning properly? They should only vent air, not steam. And packing on shutoff valves should not leak anything. Maximum steam pressure should be less than 2 psi (when I bought my home it was cranked way up). Any visible leaks?

Mine has auto fill, but I seem to remember that if I add a little once per month, it never gets low enough to trigger that. But it has not been cold enough in Chicago area this year to fire it up yet (just a little electric spot heating).

Steve Harp

how much water should a steam system use

I have a one pipe steam system with a Peerless boiler, G461-w-w 1200000 btu input 96000 btu output. How oftern should I need to add water to this boiler, I do not have a automatic fill valve. I know this will be a function of how often the boiler is on but if I am adding water every other day is there a problem?

Thanks

Steve

Sal Brunetto

re:

you didn't say how much water your were adding every other day, but the refrequency sounds excessive.

steve pajek

make up water

If your system is tight you should pretty much only have to add the water you flush out during your weekly blow downs.

John@Reliable_10

Steve, Stop before its to late.............

Adding water like that will rot the boiler out in no time.
Only three things can cause it, 1.Vent leaking steam(main or raditor)2.Piping leak (water)3. Crack in boiler letting steam(water)go out the chimney. All three can be easy to find, once you know how to find them. Best to call in a pro before its to late. Hope this helps John

Edward A. (Ed) Carery

Ditto

Steve,

Listen to John's advice and follow it carefully. I think you will find that he named your problem in one of those suggestions.

If you don't have any concealed pipes, (i.e. buried returns or pipes in crawl spaces), and you can see ALL pipe and verify they are not leaking then you probably don't have a pipe leak.

If you know of ANY vent (even one) that releases steam under pressure, you may have a vent problem.

Have a pro remove your flu collector and check your flu passages for a failure above the water level. That will release steam up the chimney, and not necessarily show an obvious water leak in or around the boiler.

Continued addition of water to the system will devour the pipes.

Good luck

Ed