Pressuretrol-What is it? please help

ed wallace

either the pigtail is partially plugged or the gauge is bad have someone remove the pressuretrol and flush out the pigail then reinstall and see how it operates if no change then you need a new gauge

Rena Nicholson

Pressuretrol-What is it? please help...

Can you please explain to me what the pressuretrol is?
The honeywell controller is set to cut out at 1 1/2 and cut in at 1/2. However the boiler runs all the way up to 5psi before it shuts down and turns back on when the boiler reaches 0.
i was watching it for 3 cycles, and
1st time it called for heat, it short cycled when it reach 1 1/2psi. then restarted at 0.
it did this twice.
3rd time it called for heat, the gauge when all the way to 5psi before shutting down.
Is something wrong here? or am i just being paranoid?

Rena Nicholson

Sorry forgot to say THANKS in advance.

Long Beach Ed

What it is...

The presuretrol limit steam pressure.

A boiler will boil water making steam until all the radiators are filled. Once the radiators and piping is filled with steam, pressure will begin to build and the pressuretrol should turn off the boiler as no more steam is needed.

As the steam condenses into water, pressure drops down again and the pressuretrol should turn the boiler back on.

A properly built and maintained system should require only a few ounces of steam pressure to fill all the radiators. The boiler can be turned off then by the control, saving fuel.

The common pressuretrol is an inexpensive control with an unnecessarily high range. This causes some extra fuel usage that would be saved using a more sensitive "Vaporstat," which is a much more expensive control.

The pressuretrol is obviously a safety control too, to limit the amount of pressure the boiler is permitted to built. Coupled with the relief valve, they make steam heating very safe.

Rena Nicholson

Thanks. But will a clog pigtail effectively let boiler go up to 5psi before shutting down even though its set to cut out at 2psi?

Rich L.

Yes

Yes it will Rena. If the pigtail becomes clogged with rust and sediment it slowly restricts the steam pressure from reaching the pressuretrol. It takes longer for the pressure to "work it's way through" the pigtail and therefore allows the boiler to reach higher steam pressure before shutting off the burner. The reverse happens as the temp/ pressure drops. Hope this helps.