Steam leak

bill_105

I overfilled it once by accident, and, it did leak onto the floor. I assumed this was normal. Is it not? The house was inspected, in the summer, and, I will have to pull the report, but, I cannot recall what he said about the heating system or even if he was able to turn it on. I know this condition existed before we got the house cause the system would not turn on the first time I fired it because the water level was too low. I learned all of this in time. Do you think the inspector is liable for missing it?

bill_105

I bought a house last year with a steam heating system fueled by oil. Knowing NOTHING about the system I found that I was regularly feeding it water to prevent the low water cut off. Everything I learned I learned on my own and even the local oil heat company seemed to think that "feeding" the furnace water 5 times a day was "normal". Not until I realized that there is no way this could be normal is when I started finding that not only was it NOT normal, but, new water is very harmful to the boiler. Regardless, I have done research, but, I do see ALOT of steam venting out the chimney when running. Everything else heats up and is good, but, clearly leaving the house for a week or so would be impossible cause very little water, if any, returns to the boiler. There are no leaking pipes and no standing water of any kind. ALL the water is going out the chimney. My question is, where (and I mean WHERE) is the leak? Is it in the actual boiler? Is it a return pipe? Once again, there is no water anywhere on the ground. The way I see it, I turn the system on, feed the beast its water, and things get nice and warm and no water ever returns. Can I fix this?

nicholas bonham-carter

where's the water?

there is a test you can do to find an internal boiler leak:let boiler stay off for an hour or so, and overfill it. let it stay like that for an hour or two, and any leak in the boiler should show itself.
the first thing to do is to find a professional who is versed in steam.you may need a new boiler, or your old boiler repaired.it is critical to find the right pro to get you through this rough patch.why not post your location, and someone here may be around the corner.
did you have the house inspected before purchase. i think you said it had been like this when you moved in. if the inspector missed this, it may be his dime!--nbc

nicholas bonham-carter

inspector gadget

perhaps others will have had experience with faulty inspections, and will tell of their experiences.
it would seem that your boiler has some sort of leak, so look on the find a pro section, and see who might be listed locally to you; or post your location, and see who responds. a separate post might be best with the subject as "looking for steam pro in...."
you will need a real steam expert to get this system back to health.--nbc

Jamie Hall

Murphy, good buddy...

leaking onto the floor is not normal. No way, no how. It is most likely that there is a cracked section in the boiler, and it is almost impossible to fix that -- much better off with a new one.

The home inspection chap should have found that; whether you have any recourse or not I wouldn't know -- I'm a building super, not a lawyer!

Do post your location and we'll see if there are any pro's in your area -- there might well be.

Steamhead (in transit)

Agreed

that boiler has had it. If you're staying with oil, the Burnham MegaSteam is far and away the best replacement boiler.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

David Nadle

Home inspectors won't fire the boiler or overfill it to see if it leaks. They might note its age indicate that it's "beyond its statistical useful life." A home inspector should have noticed steam from the chimney but was the heat on during the inspection? The seller may have signed a statement of no awareness of any unreported problems with the house. That might give you a claim against the seller but it would be ugly.

Take your time and educate yourself here and with Dan's books and find the RIGHT people to replace your boiler or you'll really have regrets.

nicholas bonham-carter

beyond its statistical useful life?

interesting point....what is the useful life of a properly installed, and maintained steam boiler?
perhaps some has a useful check-sheet which home inspectors could fill out with simple tests.
i think this problem is different from one of deferred maintainance where by making some simple repairs the system is made whole.--nbc