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I take it this is bad news……

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geemalar
geemalar Member Posts: 86
in Strictly Steam

I just happened to be cleaning up around the area of my 16 year old Peerless ………I happened to take a look underneath the burners and I noticed 15 or so pieces of rust particles. Small pieces, but about 5 of them were just a little bit smaller than the size of a kernel of corn. In all the years I’ve never seen anything like that before as I always vacuum underneath before the season starts.

IMG_0010.jpeg

Looking underneath as it was firing, I could see ever so tiny orange tips of metal glowing just in that one area. Same area has a white substance surrounding it. Here’s the best picture I could get of that area.

In the photo you can see a patch where it’s crumbled off. The surrounding area of the boiler underneath looks nice and clean, you can see the ribs on all the sections. This area underneath just looks ugly. I don’t see any steam coming out of the crumbled area (I have that going for me) but it seems as though I’m adding more water than I should be, especially since it’s been a little warmer this week.

I take it this is bad news………

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,254

    flood it and see if water drips out. what you are looking at i think is below the water line so if there was any significant leak there there would be water dripping out but it could be a leak above the water line doing that or it could be from condensation from the burner.

    how much water are you adding? you really should be needing water in something more like the once a month time frame.

  • geemalar
    geemalar Member Posts: 86
    edited February 13

    The picture is the from the bottom, if leaking significantly I would think that something would come out. I don’t see any water underneath, so I have that going for me. But the pieces of rust were concerning…….never saw that before underneath.

    As far as flooding it to check the top, can I just wait until the season is over. I don’t want to have to remove the covers of the boiler since we still need heat for another month or so.

    As far as how much I add, I don’t have a counter. I have a ball valve that feeds well before my Hartford loop. I open the ball valve ever so little so the water trickles in. I probably don’t put in no more than a quart a week when it’s really cold (like last week).

  • MaxMercy
    MaxMercy Member Posts: 591

    I've seen this on gas boilers that are shut down for the warm weather months but they continue to run a pilot.

  • geemalar
    geemalar Member Posts: 86

    The pilot is at the opposite end of where the boiler concern area is. The pilot is about 4-5 inches in on the LH front, whereas this patch is on the RH side about 3/4 in from the front of the boiler.

  • dabrakeman
    dabrakeman Member Posts: 967

    Doesn't sound like too much water. Have you gone around the house on a long cycle when radiators are filled and verified each radiator vent has properly closed and is not letting steam escape? No plumes from the chimney that differ significantly from your neighbors?

  • 4GenPlumber
    4GenPlumber Member Posts: 86

    Were they rust or carbon? If they were solid black they were carbon (soot). The gas company wont tell you its their fault, but sometimes water gets in their lines and fauls the gas causing carbon build up between the sections.

  • geemalar
    geemalar Member Posts: 86

    @dabrakeman - appears all my vents eventually close properly throughout my house. I’ve been eliminating all leaks when I find them (most are at the shut off valves) I have one more that the entire shut off valve needs to be replaced. I would do it now but the floor on the back legs of the radiator has dropped a little bit. I’m not sure what I’m up against until I remove the radiator, so I want to wait until it gets a little warmer out.

    @4genplumber - they were definitely rust particles.

  • dabrakeman
    dabrakeman Member Posts: 967

    If you do the math you would be amazed how fast a small leak can add up. Assume a drop of water is about 1/16 of a teaspoon. Have fun!

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