Multiple Issues

JDFUF

Peerless boiler - block was rebuilt in 2021. Boiler serviced end of October 2023 before the system was turned on for the season. Water level is currently overfilled 
Banging on pipes in incessant 
valves have been changed 
Oh - and there is an entire wing of the house that the heat doesn’t reach. 

mattmia2

What happens if you drain it down to the proper level?

EdTheHeaterMan

Copper near boiler piping may be the incorrect size. You will need to remove the insulation on the copper pipes only, and take more pictures. The original installer was not a Steam Boiler Installer, otherwise that copper pipe would actually be Steel pipe with iron fittings.

The fact that you mentioned overfilling leads to another problem

JDFUF

@mattmia2 I’ve got to figure that one out 

JDFUF

@EdTheHeaterMan any idea what the correct steel pipe size would be? 

JDFUF

mattmia2

The size will come from the near boiler piping diagram in the manual for the boiler. If it is plumbed in copper there are almost certainly other things that are incorrect about the piping.

EdTheHeaterMan

not sure if this is your boiler, but it looks close:

EdTheHeaterMan

I tried to look for an article or video where @DanHolohan explained what happens to steam mains that are hanging in a basement ceiling or crawlspace when they are filed with water. The steam pipes are installed to insure that condensation does not get trapped anywhere. The pipes are installed to a minimum slope based on the design, One pipe counter flow, One pipe where the condensation and steam flow in the same direction and different two pipe systems. This pitch or slope is important and sometimes when a home settles over decades that slope can become out of wack.

Now consider this, the most weight those pipe hangers are designed to hold are empty pipes, with no water in them. Only air or steam (which is lighter than air) are supposed to be in those pipes. Now you add the weight of water to those large 2 or 3 inch mains and watch those 50+ year old hangers give a little. It is quite possible that your entire system of steam mains are now out of wack and there are several low spots that are trapping condensation (water) where it should not be. That can cause some serious banging.

Do you own a level? One of those 6 foot ones. And perhaps a 2 ft one for the shorter pipes and maybe even a 6" one for between those really short pipes. Everything must be properly pitched to get the water to flow back to the return pipe to the boiler.

DanHolohan

You said it well, Ed. 

EzzyT

I would start with correcting the near boiler piping and then go from there.

Grallert

Bring the water level down to operating level in the glass. That's a good place to start.