To much water in steam system

Brian_28

I purchased a home built in 1901 with a two pipe steam system I recently had a new boiler installed because the old one had a crack in it . I am having a problem with to much water in the system, it has a auto water feeder which I have turned off, this was a problem even before the new boiler was installed. The sight glass is always full and some of the radiators dont work ,if I drain some of the water to proper level in sight glass then those radiators begin to work, but the next day the problem is back.

gerry gill

do you have wet return pipes?

if so it sounds like one may be clogged up..

Brian_28

Yes I have two pipes that run along the basement wall at the floor so i am assuming that those are the wet returns. What would be the best way to unclog these returns.

gerry gill

we usually replace them..

unless they were set up for cleaning its not easy, or clean..thats why we usually replace them.

Steamhead

Brian, was the feeder

replaced when the boiler was replaced? If not, it could be leaking. Also check the bypass hand valve if there is one, it might also be leaking.

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tim smith

overfilling boiler

could it be that the boiler does not have as much water capacity as the old boiler and during off cycle the amount of condensate coming back is too much for the boiler volume capacity and it floods the boiler??

clammy

loop seals

Make sure your wet returns are all under and does your system have drips on the mains into your wet returns .Do you know if the installer copied the original systems water line .I also think that alot of the newer boiler do have a larger steam rating and a smaller water holding cap.leading to feeders feeding while the boilers running and when all the condensate returns bang your flooded .I believe weil mc lean had issued a notice on this with a diagram for a a condensate resevare of some type peace and good luck clammy