water level in single pipe system

Pine Lane

I have an a old Peerless boiler which I believe was converted from oil to gas. It has the McDonnell and Miller feeder installed and the pipes look to be installed correctly.
When I took over the building, the level gauge tube was broken and water/steam leaked out. Now I have replaced the tube and the boiler is running and heating correctly for about half a day, but then overnight it is flooding.
I have also replaced the combustion air motor and the gas valve on the boiler and some air vents on the raditors.

My questions are:
1. How do I control the water level?
The feed valve is working and shutting off as necessary. I initially start with the level about half full and there is about an inch of movement while boiling. When the system cycles, the level seems to stay normal(at least while I am observing it for several hours). During this noraml run, the feeder does not cycle. During the overnight, the system floods and the system shuts down. My maintenance man drains the water back to normal level and the whole process restarts. I think that the broken tube was controlling the level before I replaced it. Now I do not know how to control the level.

2. How can I tell what flame level to use? I have adjusted the air flap from simmer to full boil, but I think there must be somne middle ground.

Thanks for any input,

Pine Lane.

bigugh_4

Vaccum ?

the system is sucking the water out of the boiler. the feed valve is repalcing that water, the system floods! Replace the main line airvents and all radiator old vents. Replace any traps on the system. Get and read the steam books on "Books & More."
Combustion of the gas should be set up by a trained professional.

Don_14

Surge column

How do I build a surge column for a residential steam boiler? How do I mount it?

Dale

Never trust a feeder

Before you eliminate the feeder as a problem do a broken union test on the feeder outlet, the feeder install shows how to pipe this, then see if the water level rises.

bob young

YOU MAY HAVE SLUGGISH OR PLUGGED WET RETURNS.