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Burnham megasteam boiler

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t hardy
t hardy Member Posts: 29
in Strictly Steam
I just installed a Burnham megasteam boiler - over time it starts to flood - the water in the sight glass slowly gets higher and higher. The water is clean. Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks much!!

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  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
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    do you have an auto feeder? Do you have a bypass with a gate valve? Is it piped properly? How was the old boiler piped? More information is required...
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
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    One way to check if a valve is leaking by is to feel the pipe a foot above and below the valve.

    if both are about room temperature (same temp as other metal objects nearby)you are usually fine.

    If both are cold you have water flowing through that valve.

    if both are cool you have water seeping past the valve. Note if the seep is very small this takes good judgement and experience to discern.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • t hardy
    t hardy Member Posts: 29
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    I have a needle valve on the feed line - set way down.
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,739
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    Is there another valve after the needle valve? The feed should be completely off unless either you manually add water or an automatic feeder adds water.

    By your description it gives the impression the water is on all the time.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
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    What's a "needle" valve? Do you mean a saddle tap valve?

    As KC said, water should be shut off once the boiler is full, not just "set way down".

    You may also have a clogged return line. If so, condensate would be slow to return to the boiler causing it to appear low and more make up to be added. Then, as the condensate slowly seeped back into the boiler, the water level would rise too high.

    Please post some pics of the boiler and it's near piping so that we can see the total picture of what's there.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
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    One question does the boiler have a domestic hot water coil in it?
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
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  • t hardy
    t hardy Member Posts: 29
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    auto feed with a needle valve to restrict flow when more water is called for -
    no hot water coil -
    near boiler piping kit is from Burnham -
    all return lines replaced and increased in size
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,425
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    Please post pics...and where did you get this needle valve idea from?
  • t hardy
    t hardy Member Posts: 29
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    probably fw webb
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    Has this new boiler been skimmed, several times to remove all the oils from the surface of the boiler water? If not, the water line can be so unstable when the boiler runs that the water line drops enough that the LWCO calls for water when it really isn't needed and the fact that you have that needle valve on there to restrict the flow of water probably explains why the water level just creeps for now, since we are in the shoulder season. When it gets colder and the boiler runs for longer periods, there will likely be more calls for water and the water level will rise quicker. Make sure the skimming is done if the water bounces more than a half to 3/4 of an inch or if there are droplets of water in the top half of the sight glass or oils setting on top of the water in the sight glass.

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