Cracked Boiler?

gibson

I have a 25 year old, one-pipe, oil-fired steam boiler. There are new air vents on the radiators, new main vents, the valves on the radiators were recently repacked, and there are no underground returns. But, I am still losing about 1 quart of water per day- only on cold days. So where is the steam escaping?



I visually inspected the chimney and saw no steam escaping while the boiler is firing. I haven't flooded the boiler yet (to test for cracks) as the weather won't permit. However, I stuck a small mirror (on a stick) in the exhaust pipe leading to the chimney. The mirror got steamed up. Do I have a cracked boiler?

BobC

Leak?

That steamed mirror is suspicious on an oil fired system. It might indicate a very small hole above the waterline. It makes sense it would more noticeably loose water on cold days.



Make sure you check all the piping just to make sure you don't have a slow leak somewhere, steam leaks can be tough to find.



Bob

jpf321

not so fast

a steamed up mirror could be flue gas condensation....still suspicious but not a certain test

Joe V_2

yeah, not so fast

H2O is a byproduct of combustion.