New Boiler

e. burke

I had new boiler put in this summer and appreciate the number of tips for better steam heat. The first problem I had was with the boiler short cycling. On for three off for five. I changed the Honeywell Chromotherm III, from adaptive to convectional. The boiler now runs for about fifteen minutes straight to heat up the house. Is this more effecient overall than the continous short cycling? With the short cycling the radiators upstairs would not get enough heat, because the thermostat would shut the boiler off. One problem that has come up with the longer burning time is more water hammer, the boiler has been skimmed off twice, all pipes have been recovered with fiberglass, and presuretrol is set to 0.5 cut in and 1 cut out. I have been draining some of the water out every couple of days because of the amount of dirt in the sight glass water. All air valves are new and set to vent quickly. The boiler is a weil-mclain gold 3, four section. Any other tips for quieting the water hammer? (starts about mid way through)
Ed

e. burke

I had new boiler put in this summer and appreciate the number of tips for better steam heat. The first problem I had was with the boiler short cycling. On for three off for five. I changed the Honeywell Chromotherm III, from adaptive to convectional. The boiler now runs for about fifteen minutes straight to heat up the house. Is this more effecient overall than the continous short cycling? With the short cycling the radiators upstairs would not get enough heat, because the thermostat would shut the boiler off. One problem that has come up with the longer burning time is more water hammer, the boiler has been skimmed off twice, all pipes have been recovered with fiberglass, and presuretrol is set to 0.5 cut in and 1 cut out. I have been draining some of the water out every couple of days because of the amount of dirt in the sight glass water. All air valves are new and set to vent quickly. The boiler is a weil-mclain gold 3, four section. Any other tips for quieting the water hammer? (starts about mid way through)
Ed

Al Letellier

new boiler

Ed, you didn't mention what kind of system you have, but generally speaking, water hammer part way into the cycle indicates trapped water in the system. Look for problems with pitch, make sure the radiators are tipped slightly toward the valve. We just did a counterflow system that banged like no other one I've heard. Pitch is critical.
Also, make sure the boiler is sized and fired correctly. Too much boiler or too high a firing rate can cause these problems. Today's boilers have three times the steam velocity as the older ones and this could be part of the solution, too!

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[Deleted User]

I assume you

have adjustable air vents on each radiator. Venting radiators too quickly can exacerbate other underlying problems, and result in mid cycle banging. Try slowing down the venting. Just might work.

Good luck.

eburke_2

If I slow down the venting, which i did, would this cause the pressuretrol to cylce the boiler on and off more? Would more heat stay in the boiler/basement, instead of going to the radiators? Does a quickly vented radiator cool off faster than a slowly vented one? With setback switched off, on the thermostat, I notice that the boiler cycles on longer and when the house cools it cycles on again and warms up the house again. It seems to be to the two extremes cold to hot. Unlike hot water zone which seems to me more of a constant heat, the steam zone cools off quickly. The radiators have covers and the inside there are pipes running through the fins, some look like copper, others look like cast iron pipes. Is is it because these radiators are not cast iron pipe that they don't hold or radiate the heat like a solid cast iron radiator would? I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm new to all this, find it intersting and would like to get the most out my one pipe steam system. Thanks Ed

Richard D._2

Hey Al

Do you have a pic of your counter flow system???Like to see it..Doing one soon!
Thanks Richard

e burke

new boiler and hammer

It seems that the hammering is coming from one of the returns, does thit meant its clogged. I wouldn't think steam would be in return, just condensate. Also slowed the venting down, will this keep the heat in the radiators longer? They are convection radiators. Checked the pitch on the radiators and returns and all seem ok. Ed

Steamhead

It might be clogged

Normally, hammering occurs when water collects where it shouldn't. A clogged return can cause water to back up into the main, where it will cause hammering.

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