Help! Storm and no heat

Desdemona · February 18

Our wood furnace is indicating that it is overheating, yet there is hardly any wood left in the box. Our heating system relies on a combination of wood and oil through a boiler located in the basement, but we currently have no oil available. We are solely using wood for heating, and all the radiators are cold. We observed last night that the radiators were not warming up, so today we flushed each one. Additionally, we heard a high-pitched buzzing noise coming from the pump connected to both the boiler and the wood stove, which is a Grundfos model. We attempted to reset the power, but there was no change. We hear it turn on but then it switches off after a few minutes. This grundfos pump lacks a valve or bleed feature. We reset the temperature to the maximum of 160 degrees, yet it continues to overheat. What steps should we take next?

delcrossv · February 18

Any water in the boiler? Valves all open?

hot_rod · February 18

what was the indication that it overheated?

Did it steam or cause a relief valve to discharge?

Desdemona · February 18

Yes water is in the boiler.
Yes valves are open. (nothing has been turned since we moved in a year ago)

The thermostat on the woodstove shows 210f. There is barely any wood in it. A few months back, I did put too much wood in and steam was released and the temp showed 190f. This time, no steam, barely had any wood in it.

jesmed1 · February 18

"Additionally, we heard a high-pitched buzzing noise coming from the pump connected to both the boiler and the wood stove, which is a Grundfos model. We attempted to reset the power, but there was no change. We hear it turn on but then it switches off after a few minutes."

Buzzing noise = pump locked up?

delcrossv · February 18

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1843418#Comment_1843418

or air bound.

Desdemona · February 18

Yes, a very high-pitch buzzing noise.

Earlier today there was a loud buzzing noise that was coming from the Grundfos unit. We bled each radiator throughout the house, opened the wood stove box, ceased adding wood, and reset the power to the Grundfos. Everything resumed functioning after about ten minutes, but then a very high-pitched noise came from the Grundfos, and all operations halted once more.

pecmsg · February 18

better picture of the pressure gauge?

Jamie Hall · February 18

If the pressure is OK — air bound, or the pump has died.

Larry Weingarten · February 18

Hi, The blue pump has a plug on the back of the motor that can be unscrewed, and then you can feel whether the rotor is turning by gently poking a phillips screwdriver or some-such into the opening that's uncovered. I've used this approach to move and free up stuck rotors too. I don't know if the red pump has similar access. 🤔

Yours, Larry

Desdemona · February 18

The fire is completely out. Temp has gone down finally. Temp shows 90.

pecmsg · February 18

90*C is near 200*
with the fire out how is that possible?

Jamie Hall · February 18

Your boiler pressure is too low. Or much too low, depending on which gauge I believe. I'd want to see it around 15 psig — 33 feet. The pump may be airbound, or the system may need to be purged.

delcrossv · February 19

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1843466#Comment_1843466

Yep. I'm kinda thinking the other one is toast.

Desdemona · February 19

Yes - only 2 or 3 embers. The fire went out 8 hours ago. The temp has dropped considerconsiderably from the first picture we took of the gauge. (Look at first picture)

Jamie Hall

is there a way to release the air via a valve? The pump does not seem to have a valve/screw release. The pump is emitting a high pitch buzz.

mattmia2 · February 19

if you slowly add water does the pressure go up? gravity should allow water to flow in to the circulators, the air will be at the high points.

Help! Storm and no heat

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