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WaterCarryOver
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Frustrated
Member Posts: 2
Its a new boiler. Definitely small and compact, but all near boiler piping is done correctly and to manufacturer's specs. Have two risers to correct height, proper offset, nice big header, etc. The water appears to be more than just steam condensate because you can actually watch it dribble over from the top and run down the inside of the glass. Also, the water level stays fairly steady - bounces back and forth max. 1/2 inch. If this is just the nature of the boiler due to its small height, then I'll stop worrying. I am concerned, however, based on what is written in Dan's book about looking for the glass above the water to be dry. This one is definely not dry, but otherwise shows no ill symptoms.
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Comments
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WET GLASS DILEMMA
HELP!
I have water carry over from the top of my glass gauge.
I have skimmed and skimmed and drained and flushed and skimmed and still the glass is wet from above. Furthermore:
1.) It does NOT foam when boiled on the stove.
2.) It's pH is normal (about 8.5)
3.) The water level in the boiler is normal (per spec - not over filled)
4.) I've tried Boiler Cleaner. I've tried Squick.
5.) I've isolated the return condensate and let it drain until it has run clear.
6.) I've continually skimmed and skimmed and skimmed until the water runs clear, does not foam when boiled and has proper pH and still MY GLASS IS WET ON TOP!!
I am about ready to switch to forced hot air heat. What else can I DO or should I just forget about it?0 -
Is this a new boiler or an existing boiler?0 -
I see this all the time on well functioning boilers.
> HELP!
>
> I have water carry over from the top of
> my glass gauge. I have skimmed and skimmed and
> drained and flushed and skimmed and still the
> glass is wet from above. Furthermore:
>
> 1.) It
> does NOT foam when boiled on the stove.
>
> 2.)
> It's pH is normal (about 8.5)
>
> 3.) The water
> level in the boiler is normal (per spec - not
> over filled)
>
> 4.) I've tried Boiler Cleaner.
> I've tried Squick.
>
> 5.) I've isolated the
> return condensate and let it drain until it has
> run clear.
>
> 6.) I've continually skimmed and
> skimmed and skimmed until the water runs clear,
> does not foam when boiled and has proper pH and
> still MY GLASS IS WET ON TOP!!
>
> I am about
> ready to switch to forced hot air heat. What else
> can I DO or should I just forget about it?
0 -
I see this all the time on well functioning boilers.
> HELP!
>
> I have water carry over from the top of
> my glass gauge. I have skimmed and skimmed and
> drained and flushed and skimmed and still the
> glass is wet from above. Furthermore:
>
> 1.) It
> does NOT foam when boiled on the stove.
>
> 2.)
> It's pH is normal (about 8.5)
>
> 3.) The water
> level in the boiler is normal (per spec - not
> over filled)
>
> 4.) I've tried Boiler Cleaner.
> I've tried Squick.
>
> 5.) I've isolated the
> return condensate and let it drain until it has
> run clear.
>
> 6.) I've continually skimmed and
> skimmed and skimmed until the water runs clear,
> does not foam when boiled and has proper pH and
> still MY GLASS IS WET ON TOP!!
>
> I am about
> ready to switch to forced hot air heat. What else
> can I DO or should I just forget about it?
0 -
I see this all the time on well functioning compact boilers.
And was just discussing this yesterday with the folks at Dunkirk (side tappings). I even had a top tapping boiler that did this which was making such dry steam that the balance pipe/ header drain stayed ice cold when the boiler was running. I suspect this happens because the steam chests are so small on compact boilers and/ or water is falling back down the risers and running back into the boiler right near the guage glass. I'm curious to see other perspectives on this.
Boilerpro0 -
carryover
are you sure this is carry over and not condesation of steam in your gauge glass
chris smith
porter maine0 -
Think about this
This is a glass plate where a tankless coil would be. This boiler isn't delivering steam right now.0 -
This time
the boiler IS steaming. This is normal.0 -
The water WEIGHS the same, but it is less dense,
It is still pushing down with the same weight, so the glass is reflecting the same level.
The water in the glass is a heck of a lot more dense, the water in the boiler is the same weight but much taller (It's way up in the PIPES!!!) and everything is still as it should be.
Sometimes a picture helps.
Noel0 -
Water Carry Over
If the boiler makes steam and heats the house and no banging occurs in the boiler or steam main there is nothing wrong.
The old traditional large mass boilers had taller and much wider sections and a a result made steam slower. Because steam was made slower and the normally supersaturated steam in the boiler had a large internal space to condense in the water that you see running in your gauge glass stayed inside the boiler.
What is most important is that you have a stable water line and steam is produced to heat the building.
Small boilers can give a person big headaches if you think its broke when its O>K>
Jake0 -
I am not an expert like these other folks (I'm a do-it-yourselfer lawyer), but I have lived with steam and vapor systems my whole life. It seems my 80 year old Mouat vapor boiler, 60 year old HB Smith and 50 year old Arcoliner all had long tall sight glasses mounted on tall steam chests and they were always dry on top. My new, modern (tiny) Burnham, however, always has water dripping down from the top of the glass and I just figured that was normal for such a small unit. After all, the whole purpose of the very specific near boiler piping is to "dry" the steam before it gets up into the house mains. SO, it would make sense, therefore, that the steam would be "wet" down at the steam chest level where the glass gauge is mounted before it has had a chance to get up into the riser/offset/header to "dry" itself out. Again, I am not an expert and I have not confirmed my theory with anyone, but this is how I look at it.
I would like to hear what the pros and experts think of this layperson theory. Thanks.0 -
Check the boiler's nozzle size or gas input rate
it just might be over-fired, especially if it's gas and someone has been playing with the regulator! This is a job for a pro with a digital combustion analyzer- you can locate one on the Find a Professional page of this site.
To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting0 -
I don't know. I read in Dan's book that it is a bad sign if the glass is wet above the water line and he does not distinguish between old, tall boilers and new, modern short boilers. I follow your theory but would like to hear from the steam experts on this one.0 -
well, Noel's about as much the steam expert
as your going to get...most of us here rely on him for his knowledge and he's doing what i thought was a great job helping you...0 -
Yep, Noel's one of the inside guys for steam.
0
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