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Steam boiler feeding!

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Ifollowinstructions
Ifollowinstructions Member Posts: 27
in Strictly Steam
I installed a residential steam boiler 6 years ago, last year the return into the boiler rotted and leaked.  This year the sections are leaking.  The boiler is manually fed with a ball valve, is this boiler shock! I have never seen this with a gate valve for feeding a boiler.  In theory if the boiler was filled slower when hot this might never happen.  A automatic boiler feeder kicks in for 30 seconds through a small orifice so less cold water entering boiler.  The homeowner heard that a automatic feeder masks leaks! says it right on the control. Never seen any buried steam lines in a residential home and most people pass through their basements and woulds see a leak.  Good for the boiler company's.

If you use hot water to fill the boiler will the boiler company's stand by the boiler, its not mentioned in the manuals.  We are left with a $450 home owner rebate for a new steam boiler that is 6 years old.  You get a better deal with a water  heater warranty.



Norm

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  • sherpa524
    sherpa524 Member Posts: 1
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    steam boiler feed

    thermal shock does not show up as rot or rust,   usually cracks  stress related.    check the water have an analysis done.    what was wrong with the boiler you pulled out?   rotten pipes and rusted sections?
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
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    You have a leak somewhere

    that boiler is taking in a lot of water. It's probably a steam leak rather than a water leak. Check the vents and the valve packings. 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • KBP&H_3
    KBP&H_3 Member Posts: 67
    edited October 2011
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    Chlorides

    Have the water tested for chlorides, a lot of 60 year old boilers replaced by newer ones the last 10 years have leaked thru the top of the sections above the water line> If this is where it is leaking, chlorides are most likely the problem, Replacing the boiler without diagnosis will restart the problem.



    Contact the boiler rep for assistance in checking this problem out.

    A boiler feeder with readout will help in determining how much water the system is actually taking> check everything as stated elsewhere.  Nothing worse the replacing the boiler to have the same problem again>









    I should have checked the date of this post>
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