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Boiler making a 'churning' noise when firing

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toccmatt
toccmatt Member Posts: 4
in Strictly Steam

Hi everyone-

Newbie to the forum.

I have a GSA 125 steam boiler with single pipe radiators and have owned my house for ~13 years. The system is heating appropriately, but is making a churning noise at the boiler when firing. I'm not sure if this is a new issue or a newly noticed issue.

Any ideas?

Comments

  • patrykrebisz
    patrykrebisz Member Posts: 44

    on oil burner, it stops soon after, right?

    if so, it s the igniter sending high current to start the flame. after a short moment it stops because ignited fuel starts more combistion of the incoming oil.

  • toccmatt
    toccmatt Member Posts: 4

    It’s a natural gas boiler. Doesn’t start right away after it ignites and sounds like it’s coming from the pipes above the boiler itself.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,191

    What does the level in the sight glass look like, does it bounce around or drop significantly?

  • Waher
    Waher Member Posts: 348

    Is the sight glass surging? The water may have oil in it or have gotten dirty enough with rust over time that the boiling action is puking water into the main.

  • toccmatt
    toccmatt Member Posts: 4

    Yes, sight glass is bouncing around a bit. It was overfilled as well. I drained some water out so the water line was at a normal level but the sight glass is still bouncing around.

  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,096

    show the boiler, from a couple angles, floor to ceiling, and we'll tell you how to clean it

    known to beat dead horses
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,191

    Might need to skim it, flooding it might have released some oils that normally didn't get water or steam contact

  • toccmatt
    toccmatt Member Posts: 4

    Here’s the full look at the boiler

    IMG_4303.jpeg IMG_4302.jpeg IMG_4304.jpeg
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,191

    Is there even a skim port installed on the boiler?

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,026

    It goes here I think:

    image.png

    It's surging/carrying over is my guess. You can really hear it on those copper headers. You can try draining out that nasty green boiler treatment (there are a couple that are that color and I don't like them) and refilling with fresh water (not something you want to make a habit of due to increased corrosion from the fresh water).

    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

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,706
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1875763#Comment_1875763
    image.jpeg

    I’m betting…………NO

    mattmia2
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,096

    anyone notice the gage at 25 psi?

    has the pigtail been serviced? it needs to be free breathing back into the boiler so that the Ptrol sees what the boiler is doing,

    Dial (gently, stop as the indicator hits the bottom of the scale, and you realize some slight resistance, ) the Ptrol down as low as it will go without not refiring, if it won't light up again then add a turn back in, inside there's a wheel, it should be set to 1,

    yeah, spill the chem water and go with fresh clear water,

    you need a skim nipple where that insulation is showing on the jacket,

    known to beat dead horses
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,706

    that control looks fine. Could be a bad gauge

    mattmia2
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,096
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1875774#Comment_1875774

    that cut in is showing above 2, that's fine?

    dial it down,

    known to beat dead horses

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