Auto Feeder keeps running

Gerry G

Hi,



Out of the blue today in the middle of the day, the auto feeder (ITT) started running and running.  Luckily the damage wasn't severe as the workers who are doing our kitchen remodel shut down the boiler (Carrier).



My first thought was that they may have tripped something that started the auto feeder.  But when I inspected, I couldn't see anything they could have done, plus the auto feeder should have shut itself off.



So my questions are, what can possible cause the unit to start running, when it's been sitting idle all spring & summer and the thermostat did not call up for heat?  Second question is that do I try to fix the unit or get a whole new one?  



Luckily someone was home for this one.



Thanks in advance.

Steamhead

The feeder

gets its signal from the low-water cutoff. Either, or both, could be bad. Try the Find a Contractor page of this site to find someone who can determine and fix the problem.

Gerry G

more info

A tech came out yesterday and said that the auto feeder was bad, but the low water cutoff unit was working fine.  Doesn't make sense to me, as the feeder is obviously working, but is somehow getting the wrong signal from the low water cutoff to keep sending water.  The probe was inspected & cleaned, so that doesn't seem to be a problem.

Another complication is that the auto vent damper also stopped working.  The unit is only 6 months old, and was operating fine from last Jan to April.  It's getting 24v juice, but not responding to the signal. 

Could there have been some electrical short that fried some of the circuitry?  Maybe caused by a power surge to the transformer?  It still puts out 24v, but signals are all messed up.  I don't want to have all the electronics replaced, only to have them mess up again if there's an electrical problem.