High Pressure Quickly

wildrage

1 pipe system. I posted last month that it seems that my pressure was running high. Steam coming out of vents and water hammer towards end of cycle.

Its another cold day in the NE, and its happening again.

This time i completely disasebled the pig tail. There was 1 little piece of scale in there, but besides that, it was clear.

I went to the supply store and picked up a new 1-15psi gauge and was somewhat alarmed when i fired her back up. I was at 5psi after only about 5-10 minutes. Is that normal? I mean, obviously the presuretrol is shot if its letting it do this, but i was very surprised that it would go up that quickly on my 250,000btu boiler. It was making steam and the radiators started getting hot, but i was just surprised it hit that high that quickly.

Also, can someone help me with the right presuretrol. The guys at the supply shot sold me the one below. Pictures of the old ones and new ones below. The old one is a white-rogers thats ancient.

JUGHNE

The gauge in the picture is 0-15 ounces per inch....less than 1 PSI.
If you never peg it out you are doing good.
Maybe your old control was OK?

Usually a 0-3 or 0-5 PSI gauge is good.

Fred

The one they sold you is correct. The boiler isn't over filled is it?

wildrage

Lol. Oh man I didn’t even notice ounces. The kid at the counter didn’t seem to smart so I want to double check the models.

I double checked the wiring and the boiler won’t fire when one is disconnected from the pressuretrol so atleast that isn’t borked.

Problem has been steam backing up to returns towards the end of a cycle. Also radiators hissing like crazy.

I’ve never once seen the boiler turn off due to pressure and the pressuretrol is super old so I figure I’ll give it a try. If the old one was good I’ll call this proactive maintenance lol.

Running my first cycle now. Wish me luck!

Fred

Is the bottom of the new Pressuretrol above the boiler water level? Looks kind of low and it won't work if it is below the water level.

neilc

you said completely disassembled the pigtail,
does that include the 90?
and checking the port into the low water cutoff?
that arrangement is known to be prone to clogging.

that last picture of the installed Ptrol,
looks like you still have room to dial it down a bit more.
you look set above 1,
try for 0.5,
(and inside differential set to 1)

EBEBRATT-Ed

Looks like it's mounted on the low water cutoff. That is commonly done but I don't care for it. It can lead to plugging sooner than if mounted in the steam space. pressure is pressure it will work their if you get it adjusted

Steamhead

Any chance the boiler is over-firing? I know we checked that a few years ago when I came up there- maybe the regulator in the gas valve is acting up?