Water level keeps dropping

sweetlou

I've been watching the sight glass on my boiler and it is about 1/4 of the way up. In the past it always remained around the half way point. I add water and several days later it drops back down. What is going on?

crash2009

Start a log book

 and write down exactly how much you add, when you add it.  Do you have burried returns?  When the boiler is running, Go outside and look at the smoke stack, do you see any white smoke?  Is there any rooms in the house that seem more humid than the rest?

Rod

Leak ?

Hi- What Crash is saying is you probably have a leak somewhere.

- Rod

Brian_74

or a silent helper

Any chance someone else touches the boiler? Someone could be doing the weekly LWCO blowdowns.



I'm guessing it's more likely to be a leak. As someone else recently posted, it's important to keep in mind that the signs of a steam leak often differ from those of a water leak. Look for white powdery residue.



Also, I recently had a main vent get stuck open. That caused the boiler to lose water. The smell of the steamed underflooring was my first clue. You might want to hang out in the boiler room next time yours cycles on.

sweetlou

Leak

Thanks for the suggestions! I found a leak on one of the radiators. It is right beyond the valve (not the vent). There is a slow drip. I attempted to tighten the nut and it didn't budge. I turned off the valve until I can get someone out here to fix it. Oddly the radiator is still heating up (not as much as normal) and there are some gurgling sounds. 

nicholas bonham-carter

steam valve union leak

sometimes that nut can be turned while gently rocking the radiator. make sure that valve is fully open, or it may collect water in it.--nbc

jpf321

better to ...

catch the dripping water and leave the valve open until you get that union tightened .. that gurgling you hear is water trying to get out of a rad that is getting steam but no drainage. 

sweetlou

Question

I had someone out to  tighten the union and it is still leaking. He said he could replace the valve for $500 or I could try to put something around it (J&B Weld). Here is a link to the product (http://jbweld.net/products/jbweld.php). Is this the best product or do you recommend another fix? Thanks

acl10

Put on epoxy for high heat

Put on  epoxy for high heat. I did that and it works

nicholas bonham-carter

leaking union

usually the union joint is not hard to get sealed once again after disconnection--that's why they make them! it is possible that the pipe itself has sunk a bit and needs to be jacked up, in order to get the mating faces square enough to be leak-free when the nut is tightened. those mating faces also should be wiped clean, maybe with a scotch pad to make sure no foreign matter is trapped between the mating faces. i doubt that a new valve is needed, although a new pipe-fitter maybe.

do you know what your pressure is, as the leak could be from the steam having more moxie than it should.--nbc