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Crown BSI Steam boiler - no movement in glass guage and needs water every 3-4days

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NJ_Ho_3422
NJ_Ho_3422 Member Posts: 5
in Strictly Steam
I will appreciate all help. This is a 7 year old steam boiler. Heats a small 1200 sq ft home with a total of 8 radiators.

It needs water every 3-4 days. Also when its running, there is very little noticeable movement of water in the guage glass and the pressure guage is almost at Zero.

Checked all raditors and vents and there seems to be NO water leak. All returns are above ground so nothing underground.

There is a Big main vent on the main line. It hisses VERY LOUDLY. I wonder if its losing steam. The area around this vent is bone dry though.

Can you experts give me pointers in why its losing water? My understanding is that the boiler shall not loose water every 3-4 days.

Crown boilers have 12 years warranty. Shall I call them, will they come check?

All Advise appreciated..

Comments

  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
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    Probably won't hurt to have a service done, no movement probably means the lower gauge cock is clogged with mud. As far as water disappearance, definitely something leaking somewhere.
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
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  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
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    I would contact Crown boiler, and do the overfill test.
    Probably your pressure has been too high, and with resultant steam leakage, the boiler may have been filled with too much fresh water, and may have rusted out a hole.
    Fill up the boiler, after letting it cool a bit, up to the header, and let it sit for a couple of hours. Look around the base, and see if there is any leakage onto the floor.
    Report back here with the results of the test for more advice.—NBC
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,843
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    @NJ_Ho_3422 , if your ID means you're in New Joisey, give @Dave0176 a call.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • ImYoungxD
    ImYoungxD Member Posts: 130
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    Get the boiler boiling and go outside and see the chimney. If it's smoking white, your boiler is cracked and needs to be replaced/warrantied.
  • NJ_Ho_3422
    NJ_Ho_3422 Member Posts: 5
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    No steam coming form chimney. Boiler is new.. Just 8 years old. There is a big Main valave, and when i put a tissue paper around it it was completely wet. Is this normal for main valve to vent steam ... why did the tissue paper got wet?
  • ImYoungxD
    ImYoungxD Member Posts: 130
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    Basement is very dry since it's winter so the steam that the main vent leaks isn't enough to make the area damp. Take the main vent out, clean it with boiling water and vinegar for 30 minutes and see if that fixes it. If not, replace it with a big mouth.
  • NJ_Ho_3422
    NJ_Ho_3422 Member Posts: 5
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    What is a big mouth? You mean a bigger vent?
  • ImYoungxD
    ImYoungxD Member Posts: 130
    edited January 2019
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    https://www.amazon.com/Barnes-Jones-Big-Mouth-Vent/dp/B01F26P13C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547831333&sr=8-1&keywords=barnes+and+jones+big+mouth

    Send a picture of your main air vent. Main vents should not be hissing unless your pressure is high. Pressuretrol should be 1 with differential of 1.5
    Pigtail should be cleaned as well.

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