Having issues with furnace pipes

Basementmichael

I just noticed that there's a leak in the main water pipe that goes into the furnace. I'm wondering if I can patch this hole or do I need to replace the whole pipe?? 

pecmsg

A picture would help.

Jamie Hall

pecmsg said:

A picture would help.

a lot. Is this hot water? Steam? Lkely to be several pipes not just one... which one?

As a general coimment, no, you need to replace the whole pipe. There are a few exceptions, but...

Basementmichael

How do I add pictures on here 🤔, I'm new here, and I really appreciate all the help I can get here

mattmia2

You can either just ctl-v/right click paste the picture in or use the little picture icon above the text box to select a picture.

Basementmichael

Thank you so much, found it. Not to sure about if it's water or steam heating. I will add the pictures and if any one can please help me, I really would appreciate it, thank you. 

mattmia2

It is steam. Where is it leaking? If that pressuretrol has a mercury switch in it, it is mounted incorrectly.

How often do you blow down the low water cutoff?

Basementmichael

Thank you for the info. The leak is in that pipe with the little can under it. And I'm just leaning about it so I don't know what you mean when you're talking about blowing water 

mattmia2

That valve with the blue handle should be opened with the boiler firing until the boiler shuts off to both clean out the float chamber and make sure the float isn't stuck. That should be done once a week. That is a safety that shuts down the boiler if it is low on water. Are you checking and filling the water when necessary? Looks like it is a manual feed.

A decent steam contractor should be able to easily cut out and replace that leaking section of pipe. If it is only a few drops probably should wait until the heating season is over.

pecmsg

Are we talking about the Boiler Drain?

The valve you can hook a garden hose to.

mattmia2

pecmsg said:

Are we talking about the Boiler Drain?

The valve you can hook a garden hose to.

oh, i didn't see a drain back there, i thought they were talking about the return.

pecmsg

Time to get the books
https://www.heatinghelp.com/store/detail/the-lost-art-of-steam-heating-revisited
https://www.heatinghelp.com/store/detail/we-got-steam-heat-a-homeowners-guide-to-peaceful-coexistence

Basementmichael

Thank you so much for everything!! Can I patch up the leak for now until I can get someone in here to fix it, would the patch job hold up for awhile?? 

Basementmichael

I just also noticed that the glass tub with the water in it now has moisture in it above the water?? What does this mean and can I fix it 🤔

pecmsg

Thats just condensation. Its normal.

Where is it leaking, the drain valve or the larger pipe?

Basementmichael

The leak in the main bigger pipe right above the can showing in the picture. And I was told that's not normal with the moisture above the water level. There are 2 knobs, a upper one and a lower one on the glass tub, how do I put them please??

pecmsg

I cant see the leak. Is it the male pipe going into the elbow?

EBEBRATT-Ed

The two valves for the gauge glass should both be turned to the left which is open.

To patch the leak in the pipe go to an auto supply or a good hardware store and get a small sheet of red rubber gasket material and some gear clamps (like auto radiator hose clamps) and clamp the gasket material to the piper to stop the leak. That should hold until summer.

Basementmichael

Thanks Ed, and thanks to everyone else that took the time to help me out!! Thank you so very much guys!!! 

Basementmichael

I do have another question please, in the 2nd picture I put up of that little gray box, it says cut-in, a has number settings, does anyone please know what do I set that to???

bburd

That is the pressuretrol, which limits the steam pressure in the system for safety. The outer scale is set correctly. If you lift off the cover and look inside you will see a white wheel; that is the differential and should be set to "1".

you do not need more than 2 pounds of steam pressure in that system, and 1.5 or less is better but is nearing the limits of the control.

mattmia2

bburd said:

That is the pressuretrol, which limits the steam pressure in the system for safety. The outer scale is set correctly. If you lift off the cover and look inside you will see a white wheel; that is the differential and should be set to "1".

you do not need more than 2 pounds of steam pressure in that system, and 1.5 or less is better but is nearing the limits of the control.

If it has a mercury switch inside which it could at that age. it needs to be turned 90degrees to the curl in the pigtail.

Basementmichael

 

Basementmichael

Basementmichael

Thank you everyone for all of your help and time!! U's really helped me out a really lot!!! Now just wondering what this gage is for and what it should read when the furnace is running and when it's not running 🤔 please??

pecmsg

That's a 0 - 30# gauge and is required by code. Your operating control measures oz of pressure. That gauge should hardly if ever move.