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Water hammer - novice question

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stevesorenson
stevesorenson Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL

Hi all,

I am new to steam heat as of this year. This is a 2-pipe system with a vaporstat. Heating throughout the house seems to be pretty even. Recently had some near-boiler pipes replaced when they started to leak several weeks into the heating season. Both before and after this pipe replacement I have had some water hammer. Though I can hear it in many areas of the house, it seems loudest and most localized right next to the boiler. To eliminate this I drain some water from the boiler (not enough to activate the low water cutoff) until the hammer stops, then close the drain valve. Then I'm OK for a few days until the hammer starts up again.

The water level in the sight glass does not look too high when I am getting hammer. There are times when the water level is substantially higher than the indicator line on the side of the boiler enclosure, but these are not times when I am getting water hammer. I also do the weekly drain of the boiler, with the system calling for heat, until the low water cutoff activates.

So I am trying to figure out what might be causing this and what I should be doing about it.

Thanks!

IMG_6327.jpeg IMG_6326.jpeg

Comments

  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,096

    use a level and extend your normal water line around the boiler to the hartford loop, then post that new pipe picture again, loop connection should be 2 inches below normal water line,

    then in the manual, note the loop connection should be as short as possible, a close nipple, not the foot that you have there,

    has it been skimmed since the work? a few times? the oils from the fresh work make the boil more violent, water in the glass bouncing? how much does it drop from burner off to end of burner run?

    known to beat dead horses
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,096

    and post a picture of the controls side, show the Ptrol settings, and siteglass water,

    known to beat dead horses
  • stevesorenson
    stevesorenson Member Posts: 2

    Thanks, here are some pics. I do not know if the tech did any skimming at installation. I will have to pay attention to water level at start vs end of cycle. Photo below is between heating cycles (i.e., burner off)

    IMG_6330.jpeg IMG_6331.jpeg IMG_6332.jpeg IMG_6333.jpeg
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,279

    Pressure control is set to high. Does the boiler build pressure on a call for heat?

    Check the things @neilc asked about. The Hartford loop nipple is too long. Is that where you here the water hammer?

    Can you post some pictures of the piping above the boiler.

  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,096

    look again, the vapor stat is in ounces, it's good the way it is,

    the hartford is the higher horizontal, post that same picture from a further distance to show the whole side

    known to beat dead horses

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