Independence IN-4 boiler, water disappearing

stevenknaub

Last night I noticed the water was low and added about 5-1/2 quarts.

The boiler has never been a water hog

Tonight upon checking the water level is again lower than expected

I examined the following:

Floor around the boiler

Floor under the pipe runs

The flue by looking in the damper

The underside of the automatic damper

The burner bay

No signs of water anywhere and no signs of steam in the burner bay or flue.

Any idea where else it could be leaking?

Steamhead

Probably leaking from one or more cast-iron sections above the waterline, and the steam is going up the chimney. You could raise the water level well above the top of the sight glass and see if water comes down into the firebox where the burners are. If it does, you need a new boiler.

109A_5

Also when the boiler is running look at the top of the chimney, is there a lot more water vapor than normal ?