New York Boiler S-154-AP : Small Amount of Water On Floor?

kvk

We own an oil fired New York Boiler S-154-AP that at times has a small puddle around the base.  I'd say 2 cups.  Drues up then comes back. It fires up to heat water in our hot water heater.   Base board heating. We supplement with a fire place insert, burn 4 cords per year and it doesn't run much.  I'd say 75 gallons of oil per month.
No noise, no hissing, no spraying.  No visible leaks at pipe joints.  Seems to be coming from inside/underneath. 
Any insights?
Thanks!
Thanks!

EBEBRATT-Ed

If I am not mistaken that is a steel boiler not that it matters much a leak is a leak.

About all you can do is check around the pipe tapping's to see if they are leaking. If not could it be the boiler relief valve or the relief valve on your hot water tank or the backflow preventer vent?

I see the leak your talking about and it looks pretty clean, boiler water is usually dirty to some degree but it looks like some dampness on the left side of the boiler between it and the water heater.

Maybe put a tin can under the relief valve drip pipes and see if you get any water in one of those.

HVACNUT

Is that water between the boiler and the water heater also?

The vertical copper pipe that's between the two is a relief valve discharge pipe. Can't tell if it's from the boiler or the water heater. The water could be coming from there. If it is, then it's something your service provider can diagnose. If it's the boiler itself, it's done. But that boiler is easily over 30 years old and probably retains heat like tin foil, so replacement to something more efficient would be a good investment. 

kvk

Thanks for the reply!  It's definitely not coming from that vertical pipe with the open end.  It seems to be coming from under or the back of the boiler then the water drifts toward right front and towards the water heater to the left of the furnace.  I noted last night the furnace is on 2, 3 inch tall cement blocks/platform and does not sit directly on the floor.What is odd is that it's not consistent.   It tends to dry overnight.  

30 years, eh?  Hmm.  I was looking for a date code but trust your expertise

Intplm.

Carefully feel for water inside the discharge tube on the relief valve.
From the picture it looks like the leak is coming from there. If it is coming from there, your relief valve is leaking.
If its not something small like that, it might be time to replace the boiler boiler

mattmia2

You could open the door to the firebox and look around inside with a light and see if you see water in there, also underneath with a a mirror or camera. someone could take the jacket off and see where it is coming from to see if it is someplace that can be fixed. unless it is where something connects to the boiler or rain down the vent or something it isn't fixable. I would guess that boiler is more 70's but i'm no expert.

HVACNUT

kvk said:

30 years, eh?  Hmm.  I was looking for a date code but trust your expertise

If you can get the top cover off, right below the New Yorker badge, on the steel block is a stamped tag with all the ratings and serial number. You'll need to remove the flue pipe, but it's there if you want it. Judging by the red chassis Beckett, my guess is 1994. 

Put an empty can or something under both relief valve discharge pipes to at least rule it out 100%. 

EBEBRATT-Ed

If weather permitting, you can shut the boiler down it will probably leak more when it is cold and slow or stop when hot. It might help you pinpoint what is going on.

Putting a tin can under any relif valve piping and the backflow preventer pipe will rule those out 100%.

A steel boiler on hot water should last 30 years. I don't believe yours is anywhere near that old.


If you go on the New Yorker website that boiler looks like a Model AP-U which they still sell. Looks identical to me.

realliveplumber

Could the flue gasses be condensing?

That gauge shows about 152 degrees.

EdTheHeaterMan

Have you observed the pressure gauge on the boiler? Is it above 25 PSI (about 60 feet on old gauges). That is an indication that the expansion tank may need to be charged with air. If it is the old steel tank between the rafters, that we call that "Draining the expansion tank". You must fill that tank with AIR by getting all the water out of it. Then when the boiler water pressure goes back in, you will have more room for expansion when the water heat up.

If you have the Extrol type tank with a membrane that separates the air from the water, then that may be the problem. Either you need to add air pressure to the air side, or replace the tank of the membrane has failed.

I believe the relief valve may be in the back of that boiler. The side opposite the oil burner