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oil fired hot water run with out water

Rock
Rock Member Posts: 46
in Oil Heating
I let someone in my house do my hardwood floors and with out telling me he fired up my oil fired hot water  boiler with the wate feed turned off. I had turned it off because the relief valve was leaking and the house was vacant. After replacing the valve and firing it back up I noticed a large puddle by the burner. I moped it up and turned up the thermostat to see if the system was working correctly, which it was except for the leak. . The leak seamed to be gone. Then I noticed it was wet only under the boiler it self. Could it have cracked due to no water?

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,330
    Yes

    have a professional check it to be sure. Where are you located? 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Rock
    Rock Member Posts: 46
    Locatiion

    Patchogue on LongIsland NY
  • billtwocase
    billtwocase Member Posts: 2,385
    maybe

    but I would be leaning more towards a coil or circulator flange gasket leak
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,559
    I agree with Bill

    If you just turned off feed and didn't drain system,it's not dry!
    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,330
    edited April 2012
    Which is why

    you need a pro to look at it and see just where the leak is. Bob, Patchogue is in your area, correct? 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • chapchap70
    chapchap70 Member Posts: 139
    Did you look

    underneath the burner before firing the burner.  Some older boilers tend to leak a little if the boiler water gets around room temperature.
  • Rock
    Rock Member Posts: 46
    Conclusion

    I shut this burner off a couple of weeks ago since the house was empty, after shutting it down I noticed water leaking out of the relief valve. I turned off the water feed  and drained the water from the relief valve . then plugged the relief valve.  Then the floor guy came in and turned the heater on and opened the feed valve.To make a long story short, I replaced the relief valve and fired the system back on. At first no leaks. About an hour later went down in  the basement and found water on the floor. Moped it up and a week later with the boiler on no leaks. So it looks like it has something to do with shutting the burner down and restarting it.
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,505
    YIKES

    PLEASE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, DO NOT PLUG THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE. EVER!!!

    As the others have said, you need to get a pro in there, there are a few on this site near your area.

    Also, you need to keep the flooring guy to stop touching your system.

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,330
    AGREED!

    You were EXTREMELY lucky something did not explode. Plugging the relief valve is dangerous. Shut that boiler down NOW and have a REAL PRO fix it!



    There are several good contractors on Long Island. One of them is in this thread- Bob O'Brien. His company is Technical Heating,  631-473-1597.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
This discussion has been closed.

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