Old Steam Boiler Problems

John Barba_6

Steamhead:

Looks like that is what happened...

I pulled the gauge, cleaned, and replaced it. After 4 or so heating cycles this am it was consistantly reading about 2 1/2 psi when hot and 0 when cold.

I also cleaned the pressure relief valve and ordered a replacement just to be safe.

Lastly, I checked the pressuretrol. It seems to work - when I push up on it manaully it causes the boiler to shut down. I plan on pulling it and cleaning/replacing the pigtail as well.

Any suggestions while I'm at it?

Thanks.

Jeff

John Barba_6

Need Help with 1 pipe system

Help!!! I have I have an American Standard A-3 (A36) 1B J1 Series Boiler on a two loop, single pipe steam system.

I just replaced the main vents and have seen some improvement in overall heating performance (they both are getting hot faster). When monitoring the progress I noticed that the pressure gauge was readign 25psi. Could this indicate a blockage? I'm replacing the pressure relief valve to be on the safe side, but what other issues might be causing the increased pressure? How do you flush the mains to ensure there are no blockages causing the pressure spike?

Below is as much info I could come up with.

BOILER:

The dataplate reads:
208 Valve Cap. Min. Lb/hr
208 Gross Output
650 Sq. Ft. Steam
108.9 Water MBh
2.00 Gal/hr

It has a honeywell pressure controller (PA404A 1009 1) that reads 0.5 for cut in and a Beckett Model AF oil burner (newer than the boiler but not new) with a 1.0 gph nozzle.

MAINS:
I have 3" main lines outbound coming back as 2" lines insulated with fiberglass (asbestos removed a few years ago.) Although I haven't had a chance to insulate the elbows yet (work, kids, work, work, work...) One loop is approx. 75' and has a Dole Quick Vent Air Valve #4; the other is 50' and has a Gorton #1 air vent. They feed 12 radiators in a 110 year old, 3 story, 3000 sq. ft. home.

Thanks.

Jeff

Michael Wilson

hmm...

Hey Jeff,
I have a few questions for ya...

Did the relief ever blow?
Does the boiler ever shut down on pressure?
What does the gauge read when the boiler is off and cold?

Ted Robinson

I just replaced the exact boiler

I have a 2100 sq ft, about 300 sq ft of radiators, two story house, and fired the boiler with a 1.35 gal/hr nozzle. My experience is that boiler while solid and still running strong was probably very inefficient. Some day you might replace yours and reach the same conclusion.

nicholas bonham-carter

high pressure bad for vents

you must find out why the pressure is so high! if it hasn't happened already, the over-pressure will kill your main vents[ vents times one grant + one jackson = cost of this!]
the possible cause could be a blocked pigtail preventing the pressure regulator from feeling the real boiler pressure.
if you do not have a copy of dan's steam book, i strongly advise you to buy them here so you can be able to do some of your maintainance, and deal with the pros.you will learn from this why this pressure is so dammaging.good luck!--nbc

Steamhead (in transit)

It might also

mean the gauge is bad. Gauges aren't expensive, try changing yours and see how it does.

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John Barba_6

Mike:

It looks like it was a gauge problem. I pulled the gauge, cleaned, and replaced it. After 4 or so heating cycles this am it was consistantly reading about 2 1/2 psi when hot and 0 when cold.

I also cleaned the pressure relief valve and ordered a replacement just to be safe.

Lastly, I checked the pressuretrol. It seems to work - when I push up on it manaully it causes the boiler to shut down. I plan on pulling it and cleaning/replacing the pigtail as well.

Any suggestions while I'm at it?

Thanks.

Jeff

John Barba_6

Ted:

My service tech computes the efficiency @ 80% which seems high to me (they may just want to keep selling me 1500 gals/yr). I'm having an independent energy audit to verify. If it is low I will investigate replacing.

Jeff

John Barba_6

Looks like it was the gauge. Am checking the pigtail as well. Waiting for the book to arrive. Vents most of the radiators (some wer very old and are getting replaced anyway) and on mains still working so don't think the pressure was that high.

Thanks.