Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Shouldn’t this be 2.5 psi?

Shepfitz_03
Shepfitz_03 Member Posts: 4
in Strictly Steam
I have a a fairly new gas boiler (8 yrs old)for my steam heat. What would cause it to be that high and is it dangerous? Thanks!

Comments

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,667
    Hello @Shepfitz_03,

    Oversized boiler.
    Presuretrol or Vaporstat not working correctly.
    Plugged up pigtail pipe to the Presuretrol or Vaporstat.
    Gauge is broken and reading incorrectly.

    It probably should be way below 2.5 Lbs. like that gauge never moves.
    I would find out what is going on.
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    Shepfitz_03
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 2,854
    post pictures of your controls and sightglass
    known to beat dead horses
    Shepfitz_03
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,789
    Sounds like this is a new thing, it didn't run at 10 psig before?

    Short answer, yeah. It almost certainly should be lower than 10. The cause can be anything from fairly benign (defective gauge) to a rather serious fault (failed safely controls). Has any work been performed recently? The most common cause is simple incompetence (adjusting the set point higher than it should be).

    Shepfitz_03PC7060
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 2,854
    should be less than 2, lower the better,

    known to beat dead horses
  • Shepfitz_03
    Shepfitz_03 Member Posts: 4
    Picture of the glass tube. Did have someone look at it a year ago and he cleaned out the pigtail but no change. Could it be it is not vented in the basement? 2nd picture is where it may have been vented at one time in basement??
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,667
    Hello @Shepfitz_03,
    When the boiler is off does the gauge eventually return to zero ?
    When the boiler fires up can you watch the gauge go from 0 to 10 PSI ?
    A missing Main vent should not raise the pressure significantly, since it should be the first vent to close anyway. If it is missing the Steam distribution in the main pipe is not as efficient as it could be.
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    Shepfitz_03
  • exqheat
    exqheat Member Posts: 193
    Might want to plan to remove the asbestos.
    John Cockerill Exquisite Heat www.exqheat.com Precisions boiler control from indoor reset.
    Shepfitz_03
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,315
    edited February 2023
    exqheat said:
    Might want to plan to remove the asbestos.
    It's best to not disturb it  if it's in good shape unless there's no choice.




    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    PC7060Shepfitz_03guzzinerd
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 2,854
    so this thing has been running up to 10 psi for over a year?
    and no one has been able to figure why?
    if you pull one wire off the Ptrol, and thermostat calling,
    will the boiler still fire?
    it should not.
    as asked above,
    does the gage return to ZERO ?
    known to beat dead horses
  • exqheat
    exqheat Member Posts: 193
    That asbestos is deteriorating and will get worse. Hit it with your head and it will discharge. Banks are getting stricter with reserves for removal on mortgage approvals.
    John Cockerill Exquisite Heat www.exqheat.com Precisions boiler control from indoor reset.
  • exqheat
    exqheat Member Posts: 193
    Might want to pull the cover off the pressuretrol and check the white differential wheel. Set to 2 lbs and see what happens.
    John Cockerill Exquisite Heat www.exqheat.com Precisions boiler control from indoor reset.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,474
    Shut the boiler off. The gauge should go to 0 if it doesn't it's a bad gauge
  • Shepfitz_03
    Shepfitz_03 Member Posts: 4
    It does go to 0 when off. Having someone look at it tomorrow- will pass all your suggestions and let you know Tks
  • AdmiralYoda
    AdmiralYoda Member Posts: 683
    Safety issues aside, your radiator vents are probably toast also since they only like to run up to a couple of psi. Try and get some main vents on there and double check that your radiators are heating evenly across and all roughly at the same time.

Categories