Surging Level in Site Glass

Len_3

Hi,

I have a one pipe steam system.

I noticed this evening that the water level in the site glass is surging something fierce.

Although the water level is right at the proper mark when the furnace is off, when it turns on the water in the site start bobbing up and down, sometimes emptying the site altogether and dripping back into the site from the top. Even though the site appears to be empty when this is coccuring, the furnace does not shut off.

Is this indicative of a problem in the system? If so, what type of problem?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Len

Al Letellier

surging

Most likely you have dirty water in the boiler. It may need a good flushing and skimming. Contact a steam guy for this. Not a job for the unexperienced, especially if there is no skim valve on the boiler.

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Len_3

Thank you.

Dave_55

Cleaning

I do have one question...if the water is dirty but not oily...is a simple drain, flush, and replace sensible? (Assuming that there's a valve to do it with). And should some sort of antirust be put in to counter the oxidizing effectof the fresh water?

Jack Ennis Martin

Surging in the siteglass

I have just read your problem and I have some questions. First, have you had any work done on the boiler recently? If so, what kind and where in the system? Second, have you had the gas valve altered or changed? Water surging as pointed out ;comes from a diry system and that is from contaminates introduced into the boiler water:most commonly ,oil from new pipe being installed and the mechanic doing it, not wiping his threads clean. It does not take alot of oil to cause problems a very small amount can and will sit on the surface of the water. The oil causes the steam to form bubbles and when the bubbles break the water starts to surge. This is very common after acid cleaning of a boiler especially in sectionals. The acid clings to the areas where the section goes together and when the water is heated the acid comes into the boiler water. Get your boiler person to clean the boiler properly with the correct cleaning solutions and then he or she will heat and drain the boiler until all the material that should not be present is flushed away. We had a very bad bouncing problem with an hundred housepowersectional after acid cleaning it. The department of labour insisted we do the clean. The carryover was so severe that the boiler was going off on low water from carry over. We neutalized the boiler water as per Dearborn Chemicals Inc directions and blew the boiler down until the poor operator was almost crazy with this opeation ,but eventually the beast settled down and we got back on line. Acid cleaning in a sectional is tricky and cleaning acid is always left; so, a very vigerious cleaning is required. If your boiler has suddenly manifested this problem have someone knowledgiable look at it: this can happen if the boiler is being over fired as well --- too much heat applied to quickly. Good Luck and do not attempt to fix this yourself -- be safe ,hire a pro. Jack Ennis Martin

Dave_55

I am not the original message poster but I will say that I have not had any new pipe installed, or the gas valve altered or changed. Only the sight glass has been replaced and the emergency relief valve, and the latter was done *after* the problem surfaced. It might well be that the issue is indeed being overfired, I noticed on opening the door that the flame is shooting out of the side of the ceramic and also going up bewteen the top two ceramic layers. I've got a call in to Ken Secor... you've told me what I needed to know, thank you!

Len_3

Hi,

To answer your questions:
-I have not had work down on the boiler recently other than an annual start up maintenance.

-The gas valve has not been changed at all.

I converted from oil to gas a few years ago. My house was built in 1929. So, I have always suspected that any dirty water that come out when I drain the system (every couple of weeks or so) is from gunk in the pipes from oil and age.

I had someone over today that skimmed the unit, and that helped a bit. But, I probably need to have chemicals added and then have the unit skimmed a couple more times.

Thanks,

Len