water consistently above site glass on steam boiler

Irv Auerbach

Barbarossa,

Thank you for your reply. Please explain what you mean and how to check the cold return time. Thanks again! Also, please let me know if any additional information would be helpful.

Irv Auerbach

water consistently above site glass on steam boiler

My 1959 vintage (Peerless) steam boiler uses a #47 McDonnell Low Water shut-off. The boiler operates fine. The water does not surge in the sight glass. But almost after every heating cycle, by the time the boiler is ready for the next cycle (about 2-3 cycles per hour), the water (clean) is above the sight glass. I blow it off to 1/2 a glass, but it recurs. For good measure I replaced the valve, cartridge & strainer assembly, with no change in behavior. The old one was cruddy, but it did not leak. I checked it before removal. I don't think the bypass valve is causing it, because during the summer when the boiler never fires, the water level is constant. This behavior has been for about 2-3 years. Before that if you did not vary the temperature, the water level was constant from heating cycle to heating cycle. I was thinking that my heating cycle might be too long. I replaced the White-Rogers set-back thermostat with a Honeywell set-back thermostat. I don't program any set-back features. I use the same setting (66 degrees) day and night. You are unable to specifically adjust the cycle duration, and I have it set correctly for the steam system I am operating. Any ideas would be very welcome. Thank you all.

Barbarossa

flooding

This can be the condsate not returning as quickly or a longer off time. I think from the limited info it sounds like the condinsate is slowed. See with a cold return how long is it to get the hot condensate back this is when the feeder is likley feeding.

gerry gill

also check

the placement of the feeder against the manufactureres installation instructions to ensure its installed at the proper level.

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STEVE PAUL_3

water too high

What I am able to glean from your symtoms seems to be a problem with partially clogged returns. When you make steam the system fills with steam and then it condenses back into water. This water in the returns goes back to the boiler to be re-steamed and fill the system again. Theoretically you should be able to run the system for months and never have to add or remove water from the boiler. BUTT! if the returns are clogged and the condensate takes a long time to return to the boiler, the automatic water feeder will cycle and add water to the proper level in the boiler while firing. After the condensate finally returns to the boiler it causes the water level to become too high. I think you might want to investigate the condition of the returns and see if they need a thorough cleaning or replacement.