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Steam Boiler?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,230
in THE MAIN WALL

What do you make of this? A new customer in SF says his boiler has been making vibrating sounds for the last year and he sent me photos.
They haven’t been flushing the LWCO.
There’s steam trim on the boiler, but things don’t look right.

IMG_1398.jpeg
IMG_1396.jpeg
IMG_1397.jpeg
IMG_1399.jpeg

8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,814

    hmm only been doing it for the past year? Why the big hurry 🤣

    If I were in your shoes I'm not sure I'd have stuck around long enough to even photograph it. Why is everything soaking wet? Has it been spewing out of that fitting above the LWCO?

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    delcrossvAlan (California Radiant) ForbesLong Beach Ed
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,437

    Owner thought enough to put up a plastic tarp. 🙄

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,984

    Where is the water level? I'm not sure I can really make it out, but is it really right at the bottom of the sight glass? Or even below? And is the LWCO functional?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    delcrossvethicalpaul
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,029

    Clogged pigtail? Looks like 1 pipe steam with an old boiler with a big steam chest.

    Long Beach Ed
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,230
    edited December 18

    The owner sent me the pictures. I go out on Monday. I'll blow down the lwco; may need to take it apart and clean it at this stage. Clean the pigtail, replace the relief valve……………

    The pressure gauge shows 16psi. The pictures he sent were "Live" and show the relief valve spitting every two seconds. That's where all the water came from.

    Thanks, everyone.

    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,437

    I'm wondering about that copper supply(?) pipe at the top of the photos.

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

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