Low Water Cut-Off

Al Gregory_3

I would have shut it off and red tagged it. That is nothing to play with.

Linda_5

Low Water Cut-Off repair

I recently had our 1994 Utica boiler (gas fired & we have steam radiators) cleaned and serviced, and the repair guy said he tested our low-water cut-off and it wasn't working. He drained the water and it didn't shut off. I know it was working last year, because it did shut off one cold night when it ran out of water (my husband & I are new to this -we had always been apartment dwellers). We got the estimate and including the parts and labor, it will cost $525 to replace the low-water cut-off valve (or whatever it is). Does this sound reasonable? Should we test it again ourselves to make sure it really isn't working before we have it repaired? Is that something that's ok for us to test ourselves? We are currently keeping a very close eye on the water level to make sure it doesn't get low. Thanks!

ed wallace

low water cut off

Hi Linda you have to understand that float type low water cut offs can get plugged with sediment and should be flushed once a week during the heating season and they are a safety device running a steam boiler with out a working low water cut off is very dangerous and we do not talk price here

mel rowe

Hi Linda, another homeowner here. Is the LWCO a McDonnell 67? If it is, they are very robust, so my question would be why it needs to be replaced? A thorough cleaning of the float area has always done the job for mine. Contact me directly if you have any questions I might be able to answer for you, based on the experiences I've gone through.

targetman

Float type LWCO'S are on a 10 year recommended replacement schedule. That's from McDonnel Miller.

Linda_4

Mcdonnell LWCO 267 Mel Rowe

We took apart the lwco and cleaned it as we had done many times in the past.
This time when we reassembled it and started the furnace up it started leaking water out of the square end side that has the 24 volt electrical hook up to it.
There are four wires that come off there two go over to the water filler the other two go down to the gas shut off valve. Is there a gasket that can be replaced ,because this is the only problem. Thanks for any help here.

mel rowe

Linda, you indicated it is a lwco model 267. Not familiar with that number, but expect it is like the model 67 that I am familiar with. If so, check page 12 on this link and I think you'll find the gasket to be part no. 318800. http://www.bellgossett.com/literature/files/7263.pdf When you took the lwco apart, did you find the float to be hung up due to sediment build-up? If not, of course, you have more work to do and other parts required.