Glass In Gauge Does Not Move

BRENTHOM12

I have noticed that the water level in my Burnham boiler at home has been at about one inch above the bottom of the glass for about a week now. I called my service guy and he said it is fine and that there are safety features to keep the boiler from running dry. MY question…assuming that the boiler is healthy and everything works as it should, is a clog in the glass gauge that keeps me from seeing how high or low the water actually is a concern? Does that gauge affect the operation of the rest of the boiler if all the other parts are functioning fine?

Jamie Hall

The water in the gauge should be the same as the water level in the boiler, and it is an essential safety device.

It should move, at least a little, when the boiler fires.

A clog in the gauge glass is a turn it off and leave it off until it is fixed situation. Not that it is hard to fix. It would take a competent boiler man about a half hour, start to finish.

Long Beach Ed

Check that both valves on top and bottom of the gauge glass are fully open (turned counter-clockwise). There should be some slight water movement in the glass when the burner is firing.

The normal water level on the sight glass should be 1/2 to 2/3 full.

mattmia2

If the low water cutout is on the same clogged tapping as the gauge glass then it won't see that the water in the boiler is dangerously low either.

EBEBRATT-Ed

The water level in the boiler should be maintained at 1/2 a glass unless the mfg shows a different level.

The low water cutoff should work to shut the burner down regardless of whether the gauge glass is dirty or plugged UNLESS the low water cutoff is mounted on the gauge glass.

Your service tech is an idiot. The low water control is a safety device. It should not be relied on to be an "operating control" It is to "save the boiler" not maintain the water line.

The boiler waterline should be checked 2-3 times a week and more often if it uses more water or if it is cold out.

tcassano87

your guy should have definitely came and tested your low water cut off & auto feeder if you have one. Also like others said check the valves to make sure they are not clogged. Water level being too low can be a costly mistake

mattmia2

In the worst case it can cause the boiler to dry fire and start a fire.