Low pressure

Crystal

Hi Folks,
My boiler is showing a psi of about 12 when heating. Heat isn't getting to the second floor very well. I know how to purge the air from the radiators and that has been done. But I've never had to add water. I know that the system needs to be turned off first. But the red valves,  are currently both open, should they be? And to fill the system do I need to turn the blue valve off the same as if I was purging?
My fill valve is in the ceiling in front of the boiler. Thanks for any help I can get.  We are about to have a cold snap and the heating guy can't get here until Monday. 

Crystal

No the fill valve that brings in city water. The pressure reducing valve is on the side of the tank. It's an older system from the 80s. 

Crystal

Crystal

Crystal

I know how to open the zone valves, and I purged the upstairs zone earlier this season. 
No. I was told by the HVAC guy we use that I could fill the boiler if it was low by the city valve, but I cant remember how exactly he told me to do it. 

Zman

Your system seems to have a few design issues.

• The circulator is pumping into, rather than away from the expansion tank.
  
• There is no effective air eliminator installed.
  
• There does not appear to be a pressure reducing valve or a backflow preventer on the fill line.
  

You could probably add water to the system by leaving the 2 lower red valves open and then slowly opening the the red valve at the ceiling until the pressure rises slightly. Do you trust your pressure gauge? You may want to purchase an inexpensive gauge to double check the one on the boiler before proceeding. This one will thread onto the drain fitting.https://www.lowes.com/pd/Watts-Water-Pressure-Test-Gauge-Brass-3-4-in-Mght-Pressure-Relief-Valve/1001063062?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-plb-_-google-_-lia-_-142-_-inlineandwaterdeliveryvalves-_-1001063062-_-0&placeholder=null&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=CjwKCAiAsOmABhAwEiwAEBR0Zsgra1oev0vMyNlwJU9g_3G2Y27CXqoiEEARyDBcJTl4LX7gGrEQwRoCxYQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Zman

I would feel better about you working on this if I saw a pressure relief valve somewhere, Could you post a picture if the other side of the boiler. Looking for one of these. https://www.supplyhouse.com/Apollo-Valves-1040705-3-4-MNPT-x-3-4-FNPT-RVW10-535000-BTU-Bronze-Relief-Valve-30-psi?gclid=CjwKCAiAsOmABhAwEiwAEBR0Zqp8zOKPO93Fae4iyhICLXm0My44SwixnTAl_SfNdmL3pqgD1adofxoCeLwQAvD_BwE

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Crystal

The valve with the blue handle and the red tag on it with the stem in the horizontal position needs to be open for the system to heat

To add water you have 2 small red handle valves on top of the expansion tank if you open the one on the left it should put water in the system.
Fill to 12-15 psi.

When you turn the system on it takes 90 seconds for the zone valves to open. You can tell if they are open if the manual lever on the valve moves freely . Then the boiler should start and the circulator should run