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Burnum Oil Fired Boiler RS115

Sal_6
Sal_6 Member Posts: 4
13 years old with antifreeze in it. At one time it was set so the low limit was 160 and the high limit is 180. it is now at 140 and 180. After the burner fires for approximately 45 to 60 seconds, banging starts and then bangs several times, not just once. Drained boiler at one time and added the original lime scale and rust remover, let it set in boiler for approximately 8 to 10 hours and flushed several times, then replaced anitfreeze solution back into the boiler. Boiler appeared to be better, but still bangs (noise persists). During the summer, drained boiler again, let solution sit for 30 hours, flushed, drained complete system over 100 gallons of anti freeze and replaced entire system with all new antifreeze. Boiler still bangs. Closed system water feed is turned off, water pressure is about 20 pounds when operational, complete system holds about 100 to 110 gallons of water. What is causing the banging and what can be done to solve this problem?

Comments

  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    First thing to check

    is the burner operation. If the flame strikes any unprotected surface or is heavier on one side than the other, or if the burner is over-fired (as from pump pressure too high) it can cause uneven or too-fast heating inside the boiler. In some cases this can actually form steam bubbles which can cause banging. This must be handled by a pro.

    If there is an accumulation of sludge or something similar inside the boiler, the same thing can happen. Best thing to do in this case is disconnect the pipes and flush it out with a hose. Again, a job for a pro.

    Try the Find a Professional page of this site to locate someone near you. If you're in the Baltimore area, contact me.

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  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    it wouldn't

    br the first time the oiler aquastat was wrong...it could be heating up the water to +212....Why the anti freeze? can you do w/o it? kpc

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  • Flow Issue??

    This sounds like a flow issue possibly related to the antifreeze as well. Has anything else changed with this system such as a circulator being replaced or possibly not functioning as desired.

    My other concern involves the amount of antifreeze you have in this system. You stated above that you changed 100 gallons of antifreeze and that the water content was 100 gallons as well. With a 50% mixture this would be 200 gallons of water content. This would mean that you might have something along the lines of 1,000 feet of 3/4" piping and radiation in this system? More info would help.

    Glenn Stanton

    Manager of Training

    Burnham Hydronics

    U.S. Boiler Co., Inc.
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    two things..

    the location of your spirovent/ pump. the recirc itself.

    spirovents get goobered up then the air is having difficulties getting "away" circ goes out ...too much heat too fast no where to go expansion tank goes through numerous girations eventually you have gravity flow....
  • clammy
    clammy Member Posts: 3,150
    Chk aquastat

    I agree with kevin after doing oil service for a few years i have ran into alot of dual aquastat that where way off and would cause promblems as you have mentioned also checking the spriovenmt for crud is also a good place to look .First i would want to make sure that that aquastsat is operating correctly also check the aquastat well by phyiscally removing it to ensure that it is clean then fill the well with some heat conductive paste and re install also check what the differental is set at on the aquastat and one other thing to check is make sure the circ pump relay in the dual aquastat is functioning i have seen the low limit on duals go and pervent the circ from operating when it should be make sure the differental is not set to high other wise you could start to steam and have you check your expansion tank charge and 20 psi fill pressure sounds a littlke high to me try about 12 to 15 psi .Peace and good luck clammy

    R.A. Calmbacher L.L.C. HVAC
    NJ Master HVAC Lic.
    Mahwah, NJ
    Specializing in steam and hydronic heating

  • REF
    REF Member Posts: 61
    banging boiler

    It seems that a run time of only 45-60 seconds would not create a steaming issue(i.e. water hammer banging), especially at 20psi. It sounds like a flow issue, possibly a banging flow check valve. I would try to turn the low limit up, so the circulator does not come on. In other words turn the thermostats down all the way; then turn up the low limit. If the banging does not occur you've started to isolate the potential problem. One step at a time. Hope this helps. If you are not a pro...please becareful around the control 120 volts sitting around in there. PS. 100% antifreeze is not a great idea. Too much..I like 50/50 or none at all.

    Respectfully,
    REF
  • Sal_6
    Sal_6 Member Posts: 4
    responses to boiler questions.

    system is free of sludge; anti freeze is about 20 percent mix. Spiral vent was checked and clean. there are 3 hydroair systems with radiant floor and some old cast iron radiation in the workshop. settings have been much the same 11 years of its life and it did not bang. started shortly after a tune up 2 years ago. since then, service tech has beeen back several times to check. had several burnham rep. check it out and still no known response. system seems to need 20 lbs of pressure to make air handler furtherst away work. would smaller nozzle be a step to try?
  • Sal_6
    Sal_6 Member Posts: 4


    system is free of sludge; anti freeze is about 20 percent mix. Spiral vent was checked and clean. there are 3 hydroair systems with radiant floor and some old cast iron radiation in the workshop. settings have been much the same 11 years of its life and it did not bang. started shortly after a tune up 2 years ago. since then, service tech has beeen back several times to check. had several burnham rep. check it out and still no known response. system seems to need 20 lbs of pressure to make air handler furtherst away work. would smaller nozzle be a step to try?
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,559
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