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Water movement in sight glass

JBB
JBB Member Posts: 13
in Strictly Steam

What is considered normal amount of water movement in the sight glass? Mine is moving around 2 to 2-1/2 inches during the steam heat cycle. It returns back to mid glass within 4 minutes, once the cycle ends.

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,910

    Are you saying it drops a couple of inches during the cycle, and then as the boiler cools down comes back up? Or does it bounce up and down by two inches or so all during the cycle?

    The former isn't that uncommon — the latter is cause for some concern.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • JBB
    JBB Member Posts: 13

    It drops during the time that the burner is on, then fills back up after that.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,910

    I wouldn't worry about it, so long as it isn't bouncing too much when the boiler is firieng.

    Might have some slow wet returns…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    delcrossv
  • techforlife
    techforlife Member Posts: 121

    Boiler should be skimmed as you have a layer of oily contaminants on the water level.

    delcrossv
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 2,110
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1847385#Comment_1847385

    ???

    Possibly slow returns. If it returns to its original level, not much to do about it now.

    If it's so slow it starts tripping the LWCO, the wet returns would need a look see.

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • techforlife
    techforlife Member Posts: 121

    Easier to skim first than repipe!

  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 2,110
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1847392#Comment_1847392

    True, if skimming would solve the issue. What was reported wasn't surging.

    "It drops during the time that the burner is on, then fills back up after"

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • JBB
    JBB Member Posts: 13

    I agree with skimming is probably still being needed. This is a new install that was noisy and inefficient until they skimmed it, which made a world of difference! Thanks for the help!

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,910

    Well, skimming wouldn't hurt. Never does. But it won't solve this type of problem — won't even affect it much.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    delcrossvjringel
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,536
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1847397#Comment_1847397

    This could describe minor surging

    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

  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,915

    How long are your heating cycles?

    Does the boiler cycle on pressure before temperature?

    What is your maximum pressure?

    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24

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