Really loud water sounds from my hydronic baseboard heating system

jckenny

So yesterday was colder than expected, turned on the heater for the first time since last winter. Hydronic heating system started making banging sounds, no big deal. Went to sleep, woke up at 3am to this ocean/wave/showering like sound from the other room, but it doesn't happen every time the heat turns on, only sometimes, and it goes away after a while: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y3VUn7p2ck We don't live near the ocean and it's not raining outside.

another thing I noticed is in the other room, there's this very loud flowing/dripping water sound that doesn't go away as long as the heater is on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM1QBNOn6pI
I haven't seen any water stains on ceilings yet but who knows. I'm keeping the heat off now while waiting for answers in case it causes large scale water damage to the house.

HVACNUT

Sounds like low, or no pressure on the boiler. Check the gauge. It should be around 12 to 15 psi. Is the valve off to the auto feed?

jckenny

Hmm I'm not sure how to read this,
the bottom red arrow is almost at 75 psi but the bottom black needle is at like 9 psi. Also sorry but I'm not sure which valve you are speaking of, I'm a total newbie. This is a video of my boiler, would you be able to point to me which valve it is? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZltO8tDFsE&feature=youtu.be

Is it this thing on top of the expansion tank?

Intplm.

Sounds like air has gotten into your system. The noise you are hearing is water and air taking up space in your pipes.
Your gauge reads about nine psi . The read arrow at about seven o'clock is a set point reminder and not an issue here. I'm not so sure your gauge is reading properly. Your system from what I can tell needs a lot of service.

The air needs to be purged and if it were me, I would replace the air scoop that you have with a microbubble air separator. Something like a spirovent or equivalent.

You probably have a leak in the system somewhere. Has any work been done to the system recently?
The high vent in your last picture is probably not working either and may be one of the reasons causing your problem.

jckenny

Ok thank you, I think I will call in a professional as this is outside of my comfort zone. No new work has been done to the system recently and it's time for some maintenance I think