What are the diffrent settings onmy pressure gauge for?

Joe.G

Hi on my boiler (hot water heat and hot water for my shower) the gauge on the back has a pressure gauge, a feet gauge I think which is set at about 30 and a temp gauge which is around 180 all in one gauge unit what does each stand for? thanks and how do the numbers sound? thanks

David Sutton_3

Tri-indercator

the Gauge you are looking at reads the temp of the boiler, the temp of 180 sounds good if your running a tankless coil.
the other part of the gauge reads the presure, the presure gauge gives you two readings , one is the presure and the other is the altitude that the presure will reach, please dont be a gauge watcher the two needles will move a lot do to cycleing, at any given time the gauges will read differant its ok ......David

Bill NTSG

Tri-dicator

or Theraltimeter are other terms for this gauge. The temperature is obvious, it is the water temp in your boiler. The pressure is the static fill or operating pressure. [normally 12-15 psi] The altimeter or feet part is because a column of water will exert 0.434 psi at it's base. A ten foot column of water 4.34 lbs. If you had a radiator on the second floor and it was 20ft above your boiler you would have 8.68 psi of static fill pressure in the boiler. You need to add a couple more pounds so everyting works right.

It is old school stuff that stayed with us. I would have to research the real reason behind this, but for now a basic explanation. Hope this helps.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

The altitude (the feet indication) and the pressure are just different ways at looking at the same thing.

The altitude portion (and the little adjustable indicator) was there for gravity systems that had an open expansion tank in the attic. Since the tank didn't move and the system wasn't pressurized the installer set the altitude indicator as a very easy way to both initially fill and add water as it was lost by evaporation.

With forced circulation and closed, pressurized systems the altitude portion no longer has any real meaning other than what is usually good nominal pressure setting when filling. If the pressure goes up markedly during normal operation, there is likely a problem in the compression tank.

Joe.G

How do I know if I have a tankless coil? and what do you consider a big jump in pressure? My system jumps from about 12 psi when I set it to about 20 psi and stays there it does not go past that much if any and does not come down much, the gauge i have is not adjustable (I don't think). Also I picked up a gauge and a adapter so I can screw it on to teh sate vavle where I drain the boiler to check teh pressure is this a acurate place to check it?