Proper Steam Boiler Firing Rate

Steamhead (in transit)

between the time the burner starts and the time the boiler begins to send steam into the mains?

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Steve Garson_2

Proper Steam Boiler Firing Rate

Just had a Smith Model 19 6-section boiler cleaned and had the firing rate increased from 2.5gph to 3.5 gph. The boiler is rated 6gph, but it is 50% too big.

I ran the system through a complete steam cycle to see how long it took for steam to heat all the radiators, although I did not wait for pressure to shut off, with the cost of oil:)

Please tell me if these times sound reasonable for a cold start, i.e. 75* water. All times are from the start:

Steam first starts: 13 minutes
All mains hot: 20 minutes
Rads start to show heat in first section: 23 minutes
Rads 1/4 of sections hot: 28 minutes
All rads 100% hot and can hear a few noticeably venting: 33 minutes
Condensate pipe 30-feet from boiler gets hot: 48 minutes

Does this sound about right?

Steve

Steve Garson_2

The steam starts leaving the boiler in 13 minutes.

Steamhead (in transit)

You might want

to upgrade the main vents, especially if you can hear them venting. 7 minutes to fill the mains is a bit long, though you do say the radiators heat pretty much evenly. The rest of the time intervals should be OK.

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Steve Garson_2

The venting that I hear is on four radiators. The main vents get hot long before the radiators. The mains are vented per your advice a year ago.