Loosing water - steam boiler

Klaus O'Neal

I have a one pipe system with a Burnham 7 series boiler, which has been working fine. Since I have started up the heat, I almost need to add water daily to the boiler. In the years before, I only had to do this every 2 weeks.
I have checked for steam leaks - nothing, checked if the boiler was leaking - nothing. I had the boiler serviced at the beginning of the heating season and everything was fine. I am kind of dumbfounded of where the water could be going. I am not a heating expert, but this much I know, the water has to be vanishing somewhere.
I also noticed the boiler is short cycling, basically not reaching it's thermostat heat setting.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Deleted User]

do you have underground

buried return pipes anywhere?

Terry St.James_2

Have you checked all the vents. Leakage there too can cause water lost.Sometimes they do not close due to dirt. Also you just might have a hole in the boiler(if it is an older one).That hole can send steam right up the chimney.

Klaus O'Neal

No buried pipes

No buried pipes, pipes are all wrapped in asbestos. The house is about 200 years old, so the pipes might not be level at certain areas. I had banging pipes years ago but was able to fix that with some shims.
Any other ideas??

Klaus O'Neal

bought boiler in '95

Let's say I would have a hole in the boiler, how could I find out??
Would there be enough white smoke (steam) showing when it exits the chimney??
Can that be fixed? a hole in the boiler.

Terry St.James_2

Try filling the boiler as far as the header only. Do not go past that(if you water log the system you'll have given your self a new problem) anyways...fill the boiler to the header only...if it has a hole....you'll see it then.