STEAM BOILER FIRES RADIATORS WONT HEAT UP

mockas_owner

Hi all, Question for you.

My steam boiler fires ON all pipes in the basement heat well but all radiators are dead COLD. checked the air vents and some had condensed water...removed them cleaned them and 1 radiator worked for the night but went dead again. Any ideas if whats going on...1 single radiator on the 2nd floor heats up...the boiler  makes very loud noises as it appears to be overworking to push the steam to the radiators.  All check valves are open....
I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT!!

ChrisJ

Please post some pictures of the boiler and a good view of all of it's piping and burner so everyone can see what you're working with.

A few radiator pictures could help as well.

leonz

Check valves?? What check valves are you talking about??

Do you have a one pipe steam heating system or 2 pipe steam heating system? Provide us with an answer to that question first.

Is there a main vent or multiple main vents at the end of the steam header pipe in the basement???

If there is a main vent or multiple main vents at the end of the steam header pipe in the basement have you checked to see if they are clean and pushing air out to allow steam to enter the header pipe?

Do you have a bubble level to check the header pipe in the basement to make sure it drains back to the boiler?

What type/kind of air vents are on the radiators?

If you can provide photos of your system and the radiators that would help us to help you quickly.

STEAM DOCTOR

Any history would be helpful. How long have you been in the house? When did this problem starts? Were there any modification made?

mockas_owner

Here are the pictures. Radiators are hidden for now but I closed the radiator valves...ran the boiler, removed the air vents, opened the valve again and air was being pushed out. Just a test! 2 radiator became active after that.
And all radiators are pitching towards the return line.

Its a 1 pipe steam system. Air vents in the basement are literally right next to the boiler and one is away but not exactly at the end. 

Been in the house for 10 years issu just started this season.

mockas_owner

Pictures

AdmiralYoda

The pros will chime in here shortly but it sounds like your radiator vents are blocked. Also, your pressure gauge shows 11psi. That is ridiculously high for steam! Does it return to zero when the boiler is not running?

If that 11psi is real your vents are probably damaged. What is your pressuretrol set to?

KC_Jones

Are you absolutely sure the boiler has water in it?

If it's worked fine for 10 years and the boiler is making a bunch of noises that are new, that sounds an awful lot like it is extremely low on water or possibly out.

KC_Jones

Thinking about this more.

@mockas_owner if the boiler has been firing and it's extremely low DO NOT ADD WATER WHILE IT'S HOT!

You need to let it cool way down before adding any water. Then find out why it's running while low because it should be be able to fire when low.

You're gauge glass appears to be completely un readable so you really have no idea what is going on with the water level. The gauge glass needs serviced no matter what is going on.

ethicalpaul

* should NOT be be able to fire when low

mockas_owner

@admiral Yoda, the pressure gauge stays there, doesn't go down to ZERO.

Has this damaged my air vents ?

I turned on the system, close the valves on the radiators,  removed the air vents and airwas pushed out....then I put the vents back on and those 2 radiators and ..YES...THEY CALLED HEAT! 

I WILL GO BUY NEW AIR VALVES 

The water wal filthy,  I turned off the system. Drained the water and  And kept adding water until it came out clear again for a couple of hours on an off.

mockas_owner

The boiler does , and always had water in it. The noises were such as if pressure was building inside the boiler without a place to vent .....got scared twice and turned off the system inmediately!

EBEBRATT-Ed

@mockas_owner

I would suggest you get the boiler serviced. Have the gauge glass cleaned and checked. Make sure the low water cutoff works. Make sure you have a working pressure gauge and make sure the pigtail under the pressure control is cleaned. Set the pressure control to cut off the burner at 1 1/2Psi.

That's for starters.

mockas_owner

@EBEBRATT-Ed I actually cleaned the boiler and the low water cut off works. The glass now with all the dirty water out shows water level. It all works well. As far as the pressure gauge....thats probably bad, but, can I just buy one and replace it?

Jamie Hall

On the pressure gauge. It's best to buy a new low pressure gauge (0 to 3 or 0 to 5 psi) and T it onto the same pigtail as the pressuretrol. Your insurance folks and building inspector will want the existing one. Even if it doesn't work...

leonz

mockas_owner said:

@EBEBRATT-Ed I actually cleaned the boiler and the low water cut off works. The glass now with all the dirty water out shows water level. It all works well. As far as the pressure gauge....thats probably bad, but, can I just buy one and replace it?

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If your willing to invest in an American Made steam pressure gauge that is guaranteed for its workmanship the folks at Dwyer Instruments and Marsh Instruments make excellent gauges for heating system's.

I had mainland chinese junk that was supplied for my new boiler fail and I bought a Marsh Instruments triple gauge for my hot water boiler and never looked back, I also sleep very well at night knowing that my heating system works properly.

ChrisJ

@mockas_owner

Please make sure you keep that gauge glass clean.

That's probably the most important part of the boiler as far as safety is concerned.
You need to always know there's the correct amount of water in the boiler and you should check from time to time.

The low water cutoff should also be inspected and tested from time to time as well as the pressure relief valve.