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Steam boiler Maintenance

Sillydarling99_
Sillydarling99_ Member Posts: 2
in Strictly Steam
Do I just turn off steam boiler and wait a couple hours before I start checking the bellows?

Comments

  • Sillydarling99_
    Sillydarling99_ Member Posts: 2
    I have 2 old house I have purchased. One has a steam boiler and one has a hot water boiler. They have never been maintained and I think all my bellows are broke. Can I remove the bellow and run the radiator without until I can get replacement or do I need to have bellow in before starting back up?
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    Can you post a picture of these "bellows"?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,669
    edited January 17
    What are "bellows" ? I assume this is a language translation issue.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
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  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,876
    What, pray, is a bellows? Honestly I've never heard of it as a device on a boiler...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    @Sillydarling99_ , post a pic of this "bellows".
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,502
    Assuming you referring to a pressuretrol or similar just let things cool down till you can handle the pressuretrol without risk of getting burned. If it's as cold there as here you don't want that heat off for longer than needed.
    After removing the pressuretrol wires (make sure boiler circuit breaker is off), unscrew the pressuretrol and check the base of that pressuretrol and the pigtail to make sure they are open. You should be able to blow into the open pigtail and feel no restriction after the initial plug of water is out.
    Assuming everything is free and open, pour a little water into the pigtail to replace the slug of water you blew out and then put it all back together osing some teflon tape or pipe dope on the pigtail pressuretrol connection. Turn the power back on and you should be all set.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,200
    McDonald and Miller have a bellows in some of there controls.
    They do make replacement parts to replace the bellows.
    @Sillydarling99_ Do you have this type of control?

    Please explain the reason for your question so that we may be of some help?

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