No Heat

Pete_9

If your furnace is equipped with a low water feed, it may be over-filling your boiler. Check the float valve that activates the feeder to see if it is caked with sediment (usually inside a large triangluar shaped housing on the outside of the furnace. Just follow the fresh water inlet pipe.) I use vinegar and a small wire brush on mine.

Also, check the pressure cut-in switch (small black square box with pressure settings on housing.) It actually ought to be set fairly low, like 2 psi. There is usally an adjustment screw on the top. Back off on the pressure slowly until the furnace kicks on. That's how you know it is set too high.

Tom_42

No Heat in One Pipe Steam System

Ok...I have no heat, well very little heat that is. I checked all my vents and they are good. I even put in a new Hoffman #75 on one of my mains. But the real test is I took the main vents off and two of the radiator vents on the largest of my radiators at the end of each main and still practically no heat. I think there is something wrong with the boiler and the steam it is producing. Anyone have any ideas on what I can do? I do have a serviceman coming to take a look at it saturday but I'll be awfully cold till then. Please help?

Tom K

no heat

check the sight glass to see if the water level is about half way up. if you cant see a water line add water to the boiler or the water may have filled your boiler and cannot produce steam. In that case drain it out to half on the sight glass.
Tom K

Tom_42

I tried that

and still no heat. A couple of days ago the level was too high in the site glass and I did as you suggested and I got heat. But after a day or so no heat again except this time the level is about halfway in the site glass.

Tom_42

Thanks

I just had my oil contractor in for service and he cleaned out the whole burner. He said my burner is about 60 years old. He ran a test that indicated it was operating at 74% efficiency. It works great now.