Gaining water
Hello all. I have a question regarding auto feeders. My sight glass is gaining water daily to where i need to drain out water from the boiler. There is an angled brass fitting where the feeder attaches, I have read there is a strainer inside behind the brass hex cap. If I remove it and clean it would that help to correct the problem or would that only help in the opposite situation where it wasn't adding water? Any help appreciated.
Dan
Comments
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A clogged strainer would restrict flow. So, if your issue is too much water, the problem is not the strainer (although they should be cleaned annually)
Too much water could be caused by:
Leaking automatic feeder
Leaking manual feed valve on bypass
Slow condensate return tricking autofeeder into adding too much water
Leaking domestic hot water coil.
First question is, do you have a DHW coil on your boiler, or a separate water heater?
Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.0 -
No DHW coil. I kinda was thinking the same thing about the strainer, that would restrict flow. So it could be getting past the closed bypass valve, or the feeder itself. Or it could be slow water condensate return. I read something about the PH or dirty water causes as well?
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pH does not add water to a system. Slow returns also does not add water to the system. If you think the returns are so slow that the boiler's water level is dropping and tripping the LWCO and then the auto feeder is adding water, this should be obvious if you watch the system. You could temporally disable the auto feeder.
It is probably a leaking valve.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
ph that is too high can cause priming with some water chemistries and that water being thrown in to the mains can cause the water feeder to trip. if the water level in the boiler is dropping and triggering the feeder, it is more likely liquid water is being thrown in to the mains because of surging or priming than the returns are clogged. is the water level stable while it is steaming? how far does it drop during a cycle? the manual or automatic valves not holding is also a likely possibility.
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When cycling the water in the sight glass drops sbout 2-4", it gently rises and falls between that range going up and down as it's running. The water in the glass is clean and clear when it's been not running for a while, but when it cycling it's rusty water in the glass, and after it shuts down the water in the glass is rusty until it clears after a while.
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Although a plugged or partially plugged strainer will not cause more water to feed if debris got past the strainer it could be lodged in the valve seat..
First thing is to shut off the water feeder and run without it and see what happens.
It also could be your low water cutoff needs service or replacement and it could be telling the feeder to feed when it shouldn't
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So turn off the valve that supplies water to the feeder and see if it still gains?
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Yes. try that
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I closed the water valve upstream that provides water to the feeder and bypass, it's cycled a few times and the water hasn't risen. The LWCO did a self test and did not call for water, and the auto feeder did not come on. I'm thinking that the source is either the bypass valve, or the valve inside the auto feeder. I'm leaning more towards the auto feeder valve. It's probably gunked up. There's no shut off just before the feeder so I can't isolate it between the bypass or feeder itself.
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there are probably some unions you can open to figure out which valve isn't holding.
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Everything looks to be soldered in place, but there are indeed some unions in there. It's a McDonnell and Miller WFE Uni-Match. Are these easy to rebuild or do I need to call someone who knows what they are doing?
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" When cycling the water in the sight glass drops sbout 2-4", it gently rises and falls between that range going up and down as it's running. "
This does not sound normal. Sounds like your water could be much cleaner. If the water level drops too low the LWCO / auto feeder may add water.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
Well… depends on the system. Cedric has been doing that for 16 years and counting…
Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England0 -
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So now it's got me wondering... we've had a couple days of 65 plus degree weather during the day and the boiler has not had to come on very often, only at night. I have the water turned back on, and it doesn't seem to be gaining when it hasn't ran all day, but it has gained when it ran overnight. This makes me believe less that it is a leaking valve, because it would be gaining regardless if it's running or not, not only when it's ran. Now I am wondering if it's something else?
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it is this if it only happens when it is running:
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How old is this boiler, how long have you lived with it ? Is this a new or recent problem ?
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
If this is a one-pipe system (only one pipe connected to each radiator) check the shutoff valves to see that they are completely open. If they are partially closed, the water of condensation will not be able to get back down through the valve, so it will back up in the radiator and possibly cause the boiler to run low on water. And if the low-water cutoff detects low water, it will activate the feeder. Then all that backed-up water will return, overfilling the boiler.
All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting
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The boiler is 5 years old. One pipe system. All of the valves are fully open. It just started doing this a few months ago.
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Do any of the valves rattle when the steam is up? If so, the washer disc may have come off inside the valve, blocking the returning water.
All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting0 -
" but when it cycling it's rusty water in the glass "
I think I would get the water a lot cleaner, for a start, a good flush out.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
Ok it was high 70' low 80's today so the boiler didn't run at all and the level did indeed go up, so it's a valve, probably the auto feeder.
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Well repair the leak, and flush out the rust, rust does not boil well.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0
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