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Sight Glass- Steam Boiler

brittanyjane13
brittanyjane13 Member Posts: 1
in Strictly Steam

Hello,

We had our boiler maintenance done a few weeks ago, as well as the sight glass. We used the heat for the first time this year. The water in the sight glass looks like this but after draining and refilling 2x, the water being drained is clear while the water in the glass still fills brown. Any ideas?

IMG_0349.jpeg

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,202

    May I presume that the water level in the sight glass moves with the boiler water? If so, not to worry — drain it down a few times to empty the glass and bring it back up. There's no circulation in there in the ordinary way. And even if it doesn't clear — makes it easier to see!

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,772

    It will probably settle down in time. You probably have flushed most of the sediment out

  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 706

    The bottom gauge glass cock has a drain valve. If the boiler water is clear, you can clear the glass by closing the bottom cock and opening the little drain valve. Try doing this a few times and you should see clear water in the glass.

    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,681

    @Pumpguy is right about getting the dirty water out.

    Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 2.53.42 PM.png

    But @EBEBRATT-Ed also has a point. That dirty water is not a real problem. And it is easier to see.

    It's a personal preference thing.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • Dan_NJ
    Dan_NJ Member Posts: 262
    edited October 2024

    When I had steam I added a drain per the video from Silent Steam team. The Dahl 521-61-04 is the valve I eventually stuck on there. The lower portion of the sight glass fitting always seemed to have some crud to flush out no matter how clean the boiler water was.

    https://youtu.be/_z8v1YOQcM4?si=7OQiKEQEynvfycyo

    ethicalpaul

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