Purging air, heat comes through baseboards, then stops

beckyfurboter12

Hi! I posted a few days ago with this issue that has yet to resolve. We’ve had a few professionals come to look and no permanent solution. Our oil burner is in good shape according to the professionals, but we have recurring issues with the heat in our top floor (zone 2 of 2) not staying on. Each time, they purge the air out, it kicks on and then in a matter of maybe an hour, it’s off again and we can’t get the heat pumping again. 1 guy said our coil is leaking and that’s causing it but it’s pricy and I didn’t feel confident in his diagnosis. Any suggestions? 

Jamie Hall

The first and simplest question is what pressure is your system running at, cold and hot? For a two story building, it has to be at at least 12 psi cold -- and 15 psi would be better. It should rise when the boiler is on, but not more than 5 psi. If the pressure isn't adequate, air can get back in to the piping in the second floor and you are back where you started.

beckyfurboter12

This is the current reading and the pipes are cool leading upstairs 

beckyfurboter12

And while the burner was on, the meter didn’t really rise. I also noticed when the boiler kicked on, a drop of water fell from this valve 

Jamie Hall

Those gauges are notoriously inaccurate, but my first impression is that the pressure is just barely adequate cold. You might get a more accurate gauge fitted with a hose connection, and find a drain fitting to attach it to to check.

unclejohn

What does the tech do to correct the problem when he gets there. Does he add water to the system. What is the pressure when the zone heats.