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Can automatic water feed hum?

Ed2
Ed2 Member Posts: 17
I'm trying to figure out a hum or vibration that occurs as the system (single pipe steam) heats up. In the first 15 minutes (could be longer), as radiators are starting to heat, the system hums or vibrates and I'm trying to figure out where/why. It doesn't sound like hammering. I wondered if a vent was vibrating, but tapping, putting thumb over vent hole etc doesn't do anything and it doesn't sound like the noise is from a radiator (location). I'e also tried moving radiator shut-off valves, making sure they're all open and that doesn't matter.



But, if I stand by the boiler when the humming is happening, it sound like it is coming from the boiler and, even then, it seems like it is coming from the automatic water feed as (steam) pressure develops. Is that possible? How would you fix it?



The steam pressure is set low. I think cut-out is 1.5 psi.

Comments

  • crash2009
    crash2009 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited November 2010
    gas or oil

    You running gas or oil Ed?  First let me qualify myself, I am not a heating professional, but it looks like I am the only one around today.  I do a lot of reading around here and I have never heard of the hum you are talking about.  I have heard people talk about the oil pump humming.  And the gas valve in my propane grill hums sometimes.  My gas grill is no big deal, (its outside) when it hums I just wack it with the handle of a screwdriver.  I do not recomend you do that to your boiler though.  I would call my service man to come over and check it out.
  • Ed2
    Ed2 Member Posts: 17
    gas

    It's a gas fired boiler, single pipe steam.



    It was just serviced a couple days ago. Of course, it didn't do it then.
  • crash2009
    crash2009 Member Posts: 1,484
    Hum

    Seems like nobody is hanging out in STEAM today.  Try your question in the GAS or CONTROLS section.
  • Steve_210
    Steve_210 Member Posts: 646
    possible relay

    can you post some pictures
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,162
    Is it a real

    60 hertz electrical hum?  If so, I would suspect something in the electrics of the auto feeder -- as sprinter suggested, possibly a relay or transformer slightly loose.  But electrical hums are very exact.  Can you tell if it is?
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Ed2
    Ed2 Member Posts: 17
    not electrical

    It's definitely not electrical. It's different pitch and not constant pitch- it is fairly constant low pitch then the pitches goes up as it goes away, giving the impression of something vibrating, closing down, and stopping.



    Hum isn't a good word for this. Honk? Groan?
  • Steve_210
    Steve_210 Member Posts: 646
    can you shut off

    the water to the feeder, see if the noise stops.
  • humming

    i had a hum from the fan center relay which supplies 24 volts to the boiler controls. i had to rap on it to find the source of the noise. this was in the first 11 mos. of boiler life, but easily replaced.

    other sources could be valve chatter in the auto-feeder.--nbc
This discussion has been closed.