Gas hot water boiler pinging...

Edward A. Carey

Noel,

WOW, GREAT PICTURE !!!!!!

Did that boiler or system have a leak? Was it steam or HW?

Was the boiler changed because of the build up, or did you change it for another reason, and thereafter find the build up?

Thanks in advance

Ed

Jim Papalia

Gas hot water boiler pinging

Customer has a Burnham gas hot water boiler. It is set-up the regular way: feed header and a return header (5 circulators). The return header comes (horizontally)directly out of the tapping on the boiler. As soon as the boiler fires a pinging noise can be heard. It will get louder and is waking the owners at night. This is not a steam boiler...but the noise coming from it resemble a typical flashing sound. My only thought is sediment/mud on the bottom of the boiler acting as a cover to moisture under the sediment/mud. Five plumbers have loooked at this problem...one said it is cauesd by stalagmites growing inside the boiler. I won't laugh at that until I figure out what is the cause. Can anyone help me out.

ScottMP

Mud/sediment

And Stalagmites too.

Your on the right track. I believe its caused by mineral deposits built up, in side the boiler. I think the last plumber is not far off the track.

I've had this problem and tried to fix it by flushing the boiler, running a boiler solution thru the system for a week and flushing. It did'nt touch the problem.

My opinion for what its worth ? Your customer needs a new boiler. Once that build up is in the sections you'll never get it out.

Scott

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jalcoplumb_2

Any idea on...

how old the boiler is? It does sound like a sediment or a flow problem.

I would say sediment. Are there any leaks in the system that could cause new feed water to enter the boiler? How bad is the water at this location?

You could try to clean and flush the boier. It could be very time consuming and might not work.

Or, if the boiler is old than I would suggest a new boiler. But be sure to check the water before you fill it. Make sure the water is not hard. Then make sure there ar no system leaks.

I am sure there will be a few other ideas posted.

Good luck,
Joe

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hr

Hard to hear

over my screen Sounds like a build up problem of some sort. Find the cause first, or the problem may never leave. Any rubber or PB tubing hooked to her? What temperatures are you running?

Cleaners may work, a pretty easy first step. Pump the proper amount in and run for a few days and flush. You will know right away if the cleaner has done it's job by the condition of the flush water...maybe.

Heavy rust build up or thick calcium layers are tough. It may take several treatments to clean. Like the others mentioned at some point it may be cheaper to replace the boiler, considering the cost of cleaners and multiple trips and hours needed. Tough call the boiler age would help me make the call also.

If this has been going on for years and years you may, in fact, be beyond a chemical fix.

Keep snooping, something is amiss that caused the problem.


This is the first flush from a system that had a small leak and has been taking on make up water for years. We flushed three times before it cleaned up. Probably removed several gallons of dissolved rust in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket.

The cleaner I used dissolved the build up and keeps it locked up in the fluid. Ingrediants in some cleaners will do this. This was flushed 3 weeks ago and still is in solution. This was a copper tube boiler and the noise problem was solved with the intensive cleaning. We found and abandoned the leaking loop of radiant. Actually I set the owner (a contractor) up with an air test set up. It took him a few days to test every loop and isolate the bad one. This can be a time consuming job when you have dozens of loops!!

hot rod

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Jim Papalia

Thankks guys..that helps

Unknown

A picture is worth a thousand words

Fix leaks fast, boilers can't take much fresh water at all.

Noel

KCA_2

Chemical?


Did you use EDTA or some other chemical.

:-) Kca

Unknown

It cracked, Ed. It was a water boiler, if I recall correctly, returned for a warranty claim. I believe there is evidence enough here of ignored system leaks.

Noel