Condensate does not fully return from the Peerless WV/WBV system

Nova

<span style="font-size:-4pt">Condensate does not fully return from

the system so I have to fill the water everyday.  I do not have an automatic water feeder, and I believe that adding one is a band-aid approach.



The steam system is a 2007 Peerless WV/WBV and pictures of piping can be seen here:

</span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/115860852106230090775/PeerlessWBVWVBoiler#">http://picasaweb.google.com/11586085...ssWBVWVBoiler#</a>

<span style="font-size:-4pt">

There is no apparent leakage.  Is that valve in one of the pictures a </span>Hoffman #75 main vent and is that the same as <span style="font-size:-4pt">a check valve in the one-pipe gravity-return line?</span>

BobC

water use

That does not look like a Hoffman 75 but it does look pretty beat up, is it working?



The piping in the return area looks pretty corroded you could have issues there. You say your adding water every day, that is not good. I suspect if it were a blocked return you would have water stacked up in the piping and the system would be making some pretty unpleasant noise by now.



You may have a hole in the boiler above the water line, check the chimney when it's actively making steam and see if there is a lot of white smoke coming out. If you don't see any white smoke, try flooding the boiler when it's cold or just warm. To flood the boiler add water till its to the top of the boiler. Give it 15-20 minutes and see if a leak shows up beneath the boiler.  If no leak becomes apparent then drain off the excess water and fire the boiler to get rid of any dissolved oxygen.



Bob

Rod

Main Vent needs Replacing.

Hi - It looks like your main vent leaks and by the water damage has been leaking for a long time. Also what is the pipe that is labeled "A" in the picture?  I didn't see anything that looked like a one way valve on the steam piping.

- Rod

Nova

Pipe

The pipe "A" is the insulated 1/2 in. pipe shown here (it's the bottom view):  I'm not sure what it is, but I assume the copper pipe feeds a radiator upstairs.

Nova

Main Vent

Bob,



I do not know if that Main Valve or Vent is working or if it's even needed.  I had another system installed in another house a couple years ago and the vent was spewing like crazy so the installer replaced the vent with pipe.



The system is pretty quiet.  Just a little knocking from the first radiator in the series when it first kicks on.  Gives us a warm fuzzy because that's the sound that says the heat is on the way.



You said: "You may have a hole in the boiler above the water line, check the

chimney when it's actively making steam and see if there is a lot of

white smoke coming out.  If you don't see any white smoke, try flooding

the boiler when it's cold or just warm...."  Thanks.  I'll do that during the day.  But I'll leave the flooding for someone else.  

Rod

Check the Main Vent's operation

Hi- The "copper pipe" in your picture is connected to the return side of the boiler so it wouldn't be able to supply a radiator.  Do you have a one pipe or a two pipe steam system?   (One pipe system = one pipe attached to each radiator. Two pipe System = two pipes attached to each radiator) 

The main vent (s) allows air to escape from the steam main but the vent should close when steam reaches it. You might want to see if the vent does close or remains open. ( Live steam can give you a bad burn so don't try to check this with your hand. Use a long strip of paper and hold it over the vent hole and watch for movement to see it steam or air is coming out.)  From its rusty condition I think you may probably need to replace the vent. If it was releasing steam continuously that could account for the water loss.

- Rod

Nova

return side of the boiler

Rod,



I assumed it carried heat because of the insulation around the pipe.  I'm also surprised to see a 1/2" pipe being used as the return.



The system is one-pipe.  I'll have to get that vent replaced for looks if for no other reason.  Maybe it will even fix the problem of daily fill-ups.



Thanks for all your help. 

nicholas bonham-carter

main vent needed

yes you do need a main vent, unless you don't mind spending the extra money [15%] to the fuel company to squeeeeze all the air out the radiator vents.

it looks like there have been enough leaks from the main vent, and returns to have needed enough extra makeup water which has introduced a lot of extra oxygen into the system, perhaps with disastrous results.

remember that boiler is new enough to have replacement sections available, instead of having to replace the whole thing. don't call the installer who plugged the vent in your previous house though!!

other causes of leaking sections could include the storage of certain products containing chlorides near the boiler [like water-softener salt, paint thinners, etc.]. the vapors can be sucked in and burnt in the fire box.--nbc