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High steam pressure at boiler

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cdm
cdm Member Posts: 77
in Strictly Steam
Cold boiler fired up at 60 degrees inside (15 degrees outside).  Radiators started to heat evenly at 30 minutes and were fully HOT at 1 hour.  House temp reached 70 degrees at 2-1/2 hours (pressure at 11 psi), BUT furnace kept on running and pressure rose to 14.8 psi at 3 hours, and finally burner went off - temp still at 70 degrees. What is the problem?



thanks  - cd mulford-

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  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752
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    Steam

    Bad pressure gauge? What is the pressure control set for?
  • cdm
    cdm Member Posts: 77
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    High steam pressure at boiler

    Pressuretrol set at 1 psi - bad pressuretrol?



    cd mulford
  • will smith_4
    will smith_4 Member Posts: 259
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    well...

    If all you have in the control circuit is the stat and your p-trols, you gotta make sure that one or the other is cutting out when they should be. The stat is the first in line, then, its up to the ptrol-but there could be other things-like a condensate return line temp stat in the circuit getting in the way of things,Definitely  have to make sure the pressure you see is really the pressure there...
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,849
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    Also

    check for a plugged pigtail under the Pressuretrol. We see a LOT more plugged pigtails than bad Pressuretrols.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • cdm
    cdm Member Posts: 77
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    High pressure at boiler

    Good point.  Turned off boiler and dissembled piping, pigtail and removed pressuretrol and the 0-15 psi gauge.

    All the 3/8" piping AND the pigtail were clogged.  Cleaned both and ran water through until it ran clear.  Reassembled and overfilled to insure water in pigtail and reduced fill water to 1/2 on glass.  Turned on boiler and waited until boiler turned on (temp. set-point 70 and temp 70 when boiler came on.  When boiler turned off temp still at 70 and pressure 0 on my 0-15 psi. gauge.  SO everything back to normal?  I think I will add a 0 -3 psi gauge to see what the steam pressure is.



    thanks for your help -cd mulford-
  • cdm
    cdm Member Posts: 77
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    High steam pressure in boiler

    Also - When I cleaned out the piping and pigtail, the gunk was really oiley.  Where is this coming from?  We are talking about a 25 year old system that has not seen the water, steam or return water line opened since installation.



    thanks again for your help -cd mulford-
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
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    Just sitting there

    It has probably been in there since the boiler was new.
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
  • cdm
    cdm Member Posts: 77
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    High steam pressure at boiler

    You are probably right - thanks  -cd mulford-
  • BRIANJ
    BRIANJ Member Posts: 118
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    High Pressure

    If that boiler was never cleaned properly on installation, I recommend you do a good skimming. Get that oil out.
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