Boiler's Automatic waterfeeder activating frequently

lenbyker9

Hello friends!

This winter, our boiler’s automatic water feeder seems to kick on much more frequently than last year. How often should it turn on?

It seems to kick on before the boiler turns on every time. The sight glass may drop some and the water feeder is keeping it the right amount. What could be causing this? Does it mean that much water is escaping the system every time the boiler is working?

Are there things I can problem solve here?

Thanks so much!

EBEBRATT-Ed

4 things

Check around for any leaks obviously at any pipe joints and air vents. But that doesn't usually account for much water.

Do you have any wet returns run under the basement floor? If you do that is usually the first suspect.

3rd and this one you won;t like.
Shut the boiler off and let it cool. When it is luke warm or cooler flood the boiler with water over fill it Hold your hand on the steam supply pipe coming out of the boiler and when it gets cold shut the water off. let it sit for a while and look for leaks around the boiler

4th when the boiler is steaming go out and look at the chimney and see if you see steam escaping

lenbyker9

@EBEBRATT-Ed thank you so much! Our neighbor has seen steam coming out of the chimney so it seems like the 4th option you listed is the main culprit so far! The basement is dry and with no apparently leaks. 

Is there something we can do about the chimney letting out steam?

EBEBRATT-Ed

@lenbyker9

Unfortunately if you are really getting steam out of the chimney your boiler is shot.Seeing no water on the floor means the boiler leak and water loss is above the boiler water line.

Hopefully you can keep this running until spring.

The most important thing is picking the right contractor. Some know steam, most don,t have a clue. They will tell you they have been doing steam for 40 years yada yada and they will still install it wrong.

Don't rush into anything
Check "find a contractor " on this site and post where you are located. Someone may have a recommendation

lenbyker9

Thanks so much @EBEBRATT-Ed! I have been given a great recommendation on this forum before! I will reach out to them to have this work done. 
I imagine this is going to be a huge cost:/

EBEBRATT-Ed

@lenbyker9

Cooling the boiler and flooding with water would be the real test. Depends how much the feeder is feeding weather to do it now or wait till spring-summer

lenbyker9

Having someone come in today to give an estimate for a new boiler @EBEBRATT-Ed

Jamie Hall

Make sure they size it correctly !!!

lenbyker9

they are measuring our radiators and calculating based on their number and dimensions, from what i understand! @Jamie Hall

lenbyker9

@EBEBRATT-Ed @Jamie Hall 
Just got this proposal, does it seem reasonable?

Jamie Hall

No prices. That's one o the rules. One of the very few rules. Kindly remove the proposal.

Erin Holohan Haskell

Thanks, @Jamie Hall. @lenbyker9, we cannot discuss pricing on this forum and have removed the proposal from your post. Site rules are here. Thanks.

JUGHNE

Can you show us the old boiler piping?
There might be some things that need corrected before they just hook a new one up like the old one was.