47-2

Steve_210

Four years old changed it to be safe

Steve_210

Superintendant swears he blows it down every week

delta T

yep, once during that one week out of the year, he blows it down...

Intplm.

Does he know what blow down is and how its done? What purpose it serves? OY !

JUGHNE

And that is fresh water.
What does the inside of the bowl look like?

Steve_210

I don’t know this is the domestic water side, so maybe there’s no check valve.
Maybe he has been doing it.

Steve_210

There’s an RPZ before just in case anybody Is concerned

Steve_210

Anyone see a lot of this can’t imagine the domestic water is this bad

retiredguy

Maybe you just needed to change the strainer or the control valve body model SA51 101-102. The control looked new.

Steve_210

Yes was an emergency didn’t have strainer available.
Just not sure how domestic water would be that bad

Steve_210

Boiler was being flooded float was not lifting Didn’t wanna take any chances

ScottSecor

I suspect there is something entirely different going on and one of the reasons I was never a fan of the 47-2 or the 51-2 for that matter.

I believe there is a substantial leak in the heating system, could be the boiler, underground steam piping, radiator vents or angle stops, etc. My guess is the feeder has been adding excessive amounts of make up water for a long time, while the leaks continued and were not addressed. I'd also assume that if the leaks are not fixed, the new replacement lwco/feeder combination will also look this this one in a short amount of time. In my mind this is an age old problem with steam heating systems, neglect the system leaks and expect the feeder to replace the water that was lost without worrying about the long term effects to the system. Automatic feeders are not designed to be a band aid for "fixing" leaks in the system. Instead feeders are there to add a few ounces of water while the homeowner is away for two weeks in the dead of winter and the boiler needs a drink.

Hope I am not way off on this one, but I've seen many feeders in my career that look a lot like yours. Every single one of them had substantial leaks and eventually rotted the return pipes or the boiler itself.

Steve_210

Thank you you’re probably right askEd them to put in a water meter many times apartment building usual don’t wanna spend the money
I’m on my new installs Are I use the hydro level VXT

Steve_210

Typo sorry all our new installs we use Hydro level VXT

SeanBeans

Isn’t the VXT significantly cheaper than a 47-2?

Steve_210

Yes quite a bit But emergency straight swap no wireing involved

JUGHNE

A poll from Wallies on which LWCO/feeder method is considered the best would be enlightening.

Which is the most reliable if neglected for years at a time....float type or probe?

Then if not neglected with blow down every week or 2 for float type.
And with the other method if probe is cleaned every 1-2 years.

To me it seems that blow down removes a little sludge from the system each time. With a probe the sludge would all settle into the bottom of the boiler.

Steve_210

Our local authority requires Mechanical and Probe
Lower one must be manual reset.
Not required in five family or less Really don’t know why.
I know Dan Wrote about this in some of his books.

Steamhead

Steve_210 said:

Our local authority requires Mechanical and Probe
Lower one must be manual reset.
Not required in five family or less Really don’t know why.
I know Dan Wrote about this in some of his books.

For residential too? Where is this?

Gordo

So this is what obsolescence looks like...

Steve_210

Sorry I should’ve said six family or less NYC