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non-zero boiler pressure reading in summertime?

Zipper13
Zipper13 Member Posts: 229
edited July 2019 in Strictly Steam
Is my gauge just messed up?

I know these 30psi things are notoriously inaccurate at low pressure especially, but still, is there any reason I'd see a non-zero pressure reading?

It's been relatively hot in the house (>80F, no AC) and I've heard the radiators creak a bit here and there - but certainly not any where approaching the near boiling temps the boiler needs to start reading a pressure.

Just seemed odd to me to see this morning.

(Yes the water is lower than marked, but that's not a symptom - I dropped it a bit lower than the boiler guy set it to back in December since I find it runs quieter here)


New owner of a 1920s home with steam heat north of Boston.
Just trying to learn what I can do myself and what I just shouldn't touch

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,230
    Does it move if you tap it?
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,501
    Wouldn't be the first time one of those things was out of calibration...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,231
    Is the boiler on?
    Are the steam pipes hot?
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,230
    Jamie Hall said:

    Wouldn't be the first time one of those things was out of calibration...

    The only reading on that gauge I believe is 10 - 20 #'s, and even that is debatable!
  • Zipper13
    Zipper13 Member Posts: 229
    edited July 2019
    I'll give it a few taps when I get home and see if that drops it back down.

    It still just strikes me very oddly that it would move at all.
    I wonder if the added summertime basement humidity is messing with it.

    The system hasnt run for about a month and a half.

    Bottom line, though, it sounds like it does not strike you all as anything too out of the ordinary.
    New owner of a 1920s home with steam heat north of Boston.
    Just trying to learn what I can do myself and what I just shouldn't touch
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,248
    This would be an excellent time to clean your pigtail and all fittings that go into the boiler. Including the port for that gauge.
    With that hole open you know for sure that the boiler is at 0 PSI.
    May as well do the sight glass fittings also.

    Then you could add a 0-3 PSI on the pigtail for more accuracy.

    You are looking at a 5 dollar gauge and should add the 50 dollar gauge. You get what you pay for.
  • Zipper13
    Zipper13 Member Posts: 229
    No movement when I tap it. Pigtail, glass, and boiler were all cleaned late December or maybe mid January (likely the first time in several years!).

    I do plan to add a tee above the pigtail and below the pressuretrol ( I know, I know.. the vaporstat to be added later) going to a ball small ball valve then to a higher quality gauge. for the money, it sounds like a straightforward project to keep me entertained for an afternoon and should help me evaluate the potential utility of switching to a vaporstat.
    New owner of a 1920s home with steam heat north of Boston.
    Just trying to learn what I can do myself and what I just shouldn't touch

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