Vaporstat

Steamhead (in transit)

the boiler water is dirty or has oil sitting on top of it, that can cause the chattering. The dirt/oil interferes with the steaming so the steam delivery is not smooth.

Not sure about the pop, but it might be related.

"Steamhead"

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SusanC

Vaporstat and Noise

Re-phrasing a question: Has anyone heard an occasional sound like a pop, sometimes not very loud, sometimes quite loud in the vicinity of the vaporstat, followed by chattering of vaporstat? The vaporstat is above waterline and mounted on a pigtail coming out of side of boiler, per boiler instructions. I'm wondering if, under some conditions, the water seal in the pigtail is sometimes incomplete and letting steam through or if steam pushes hard enough against water seal to bounce the water through.

SusanC

Steamhead, thanks and more info/question

Steamhead,thanks, as a reader of Dan Holohan's books and the Wall,I greatly value all info from you.

To add a little more info re: the pop sound: when it occurs, the pop or mini-explosive sound comes from the vaporstat, pigtail or connection of pigtail to boiler area - can vary a little in location within this area.- Until yesterday, the only time I noticed it was just as pressure began to rise. Yesterday I noticed a pop shortly after boiler had stopped a maintenance run so was not firing; the boiler started up a few mins. later for setback recovery and, since the pipes were still pretty much filled with steam, the pressure started to rise in about 3 mins. and a second pop occurred just as the pressure started to rise. One thing I notice is that, when this occurs, the normally coolish to warmish pipe that extends from the pigtail to the vaporstat is hot.

I'm wondering if, under certain conditions the integrity of the water seal in the pigtail is compromised (e.g. not enough condensation or a burst of steam through it or a forceful pushing against it by steam). Or might boiler water be getting to the pigtail?

Do any of these or anything else seem likely? I would greatly appreciate any suggestions.