Any way to convert from manual to automatic water feed?

Lisa Remez

Total neophyte needs to know whether there's a way to change turn-of-the-century steam heat system, with relatively new gas boiler (10yrs old), from current set-up whereby homeowner manually opens water feed to boiler weekly. (Valve left open twice, resulting in overfill and water damage from radiators throughout the house.)

Thanks for any info/advice,

Lisa.

Charlie from wmass

Yes. Automatic feeds are available. They are installed by heating contractors. We do not like them in the way folks forget to look at their boilers when they have them and then forget to drain the low water cut off devices each week. Dan has many wonderful books for the neophyte. Check the online store here. We have found over fills more common with auto feeds than with manual feeds.

Steamhead (in transit)

The Hydrolevel VXT feeder

gets around some of these problems. It has a counter that shows how many times it has fed, and can be set to lock out after feeding a certain amount on a single call for water. We've made it our standard feeder because of this.

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

nicholas bonham-carter

overfill preventer

you are lucky it only happened twice to you!! i found a spring-loaded shower valve with threads on "in" and "out". this i put after the manual feed valve. it has a chain on the handle so it can be operated from a few feet away. it hasn't happened since!!--nbc

Unknown

Here is more info on Steamhead's recommendation:

http://www.hydrolevel.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=


Here's is the valve that NBC is recommending:

http://www.kingssupply.com/item180.htm

Both are good recommendations. I guess it just depends on whether you want to go manual or automatic.

I second the endorsement of Dan's books ( See "A Steamy Deal") at the bottom of the page) "We Got Steam Heat " is a "must" for any steam heating system owner.

Lisa_9

Any way to convert from manual to automatic water feed?

Thanks for the quick response. I guess I should have asked about automating BOTH--the water feed AND flushing the low water cutoff valve. Is it possible to have a fully-automated steam heat system that does NOT require weekly maintenance?

Thanks in advance, Lisa.

PS Ordered the book--awaiting delivery.

nicholas bonham-carter

weekly maintainance

flushing the LWCO only takes a moment. checking the level another moment. i would certainly prefer the old fashioned way over more modern automatic methods with their potential of overfilling------unless i had some sort of leak.....nbc

Bob Bona_4

no.

Steam is hands on.

Auto feed will only bring the boiler water level to a safe to operate level. Human interaction is still needed to raise it to the particular boiler's normal water line.

Which you want to do when you do your blow down/burner safety test weekly.