Sight glass water surging and bubbles coming from the top

pitbull2425

I recently went to a new install for the company where I work it is the old church in Paterson New Jersey. There was two rooms on the far side I would say the furthest point from the boiler first floor office second-floor office that weren’t getting heat. One issue I found was there was no vents in the mainline at all one pipe system. Other issue I saw was when the system is on and producing heat the water level would drop almost about an inch from the bottom of the valve assembly of the sight glass.Then once the water level dropped it would be constantly pouring from the top with bubbles I want to know if that’s a venting issue which I strongly feel it is any help would be great help let me know please

Jamie Hall

New install? That is, new boiler and some new piping? Has the boiler been skimmed -- and skimmed -- and skimmed? Did a well-intentioned soul put a boiler treatment in? if so, what -- and how much? What you are seeing is not a venting issue, but is most likely a very severe case of surging.

Also, how is the near boiler piping? At least as good as the manufacturer's minimum standard? Some photos of that might be nice... as poor near boiler piping can aggravate the problem.

Which is not to say that you don't need main venting. You do. But that's not what you're seeing.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Jamie Hall is right
skim, skim, skim and let's see the piping

ethicalpaul

Hi Neighbor!

Yep it’s “carrying over” gallons of water into the mains. Do they have any water coming out of vents?

ps: it looks like this: https://youtu.be/WSRvvNQ5WLc

chuckadoo

@Jamie Hall  @EBEBRATT-Ed. Is skimming a new install, mainly to get manufacturing process oils off the water? 

Jamie Hall

chuckadoo said:

@Jamie Hall  @EBEBRATT-Ed. Is skimming a new install, mainly to get manufacturing process oils off the water? 

yes, and it takes time and patience. A lot of both. But -- anytime new pipe is installed in the system, it is wise to do it.