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New Steam Boiler Problems...

Bill_50
Bill_50 Member Posts: 7
in THE MAIN WALL
I recently had a new steam bolier installed after my last boiler's auto cutoff failed and it burnt up. The problem with the new boiler is that when it fires up I get terrible knocking in the pipes in the house and all the water in the boiler goes out through the lines, causing the auto cutoff to tourn off the gas. After the water returns through the return line, it turns back on and does it all again. Also a few of the radiators in my house aren't even getting warm. When the furnace kicks on you can watch the water in the sight glass rise then fall all the way to nothing and then the cutoff shuts it off???? Any idea's?

Comments

  • Bill_50
    Bill_50 Member Posts: 7
    New Steam Boiler Problems...

    I recently had a new steam bolier installed after my last boiler's auto cutoff failed and it burnt up. The problem with the new boiler is that when it fires up I get terrible knocking in the pipes in the house and all the water in the boiler goes out through the lines, causing the auto cutoff to tourn off the gas. After the water returns through the return line, it turns back on and does it all again. Also a few of the radiators in my house aren't even getting warm. When the furnace kicks on you can watch the water in the sight glass rise then fall all the way to nothing and then the cutoff shuts it off???? Any idea's?
  • Mad Dog
    Mad Dog Member Posts: 2,595
    That is most likely a dirty boiler

    Call the installer and ask him how long he cleaned the system after he installed. You may have to pay him to come back for a day and do it....but it must be done. Mad Dog

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  • Bill_50
    Bill_50 Member Posts: 7


    He already came back once, and ran some steam clean stuff that turned the water in the system green. I have been skimming every day and the water is a lot cleaner now, still a little dingy though. The furnace was just installed last monday.
  • Bill_50
    Bill_50 Member Posts: 7


    He already came back once, and ran some steam clean stuff that turned the water in the system green. I have been skimming every day and the water is a lot cleaner now, still a little dingy though. The furnace was just installed last monday.

  • Mad Dog
    Mad Dog Member Posts: 2,595
    That doesn't mean he cleaned it properly

    i NEVER HEARD OF ANAYTHING THAT WENT GREEN???? He should be using TSP or MEX industrial sop - he can get it at a good paint or hardware store...its used for cleaning bricks. A proper steam system cleaning could take 4-6 hours and in some cases days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mad Dog

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  • Bill_50
    Bill_50 Member Posts: 7


    The problem from what little I have figured out is that the water in the boiler is surging up the riser and running through the insulated steam lines in my basement, instead of steam rising up and through the lines. Once enough of the water leaves the boiler into the steam lines, the boiler shuts off due to lack of water, and then the system just keeps repeating this.
  • Bill_50
    Bill_50 Member Posts: 7


    What's involved in cleaning the system. DOes he have to go to each radiator and clean them? The furnace, riser, and exhaust are all brand new, and should not need to be cleaned?
  • Al Gregory
    Al Gregory Member Posts: 260


    Is it piped with a Hartford Loop. A picture is worth a thousand words
  • Bill_50
    Bill_50 Member Posts: 7


    Yes it does have a hartford loop on the return line. Does that make a difference. I'll try to get a pic tonight. I went home today and skimmed the surface before turning up the thermostat and it seemed to run pretty smooth. I could hear a little water escape through the riser, but that water level stayed steady and it ran it's cycle pretty well without losing enough to trigger the cutoff.
  • jeff_51
    jeff_51 Member Posts: 545
    couple of questions

    what pressure are you running at? whats the dimension between the normal operation water level and the bottom of the steam header?. I take it your contractor didn't downsize the outlets to the boilet and did he pipe it the way the manugacturer spec'd?
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    I was just thinking about that Jeff,

    whats the near boiler piping look like..and mad dog is 100% right..cleaning is a long endeavor and it must be done..i've had boilers that ive gone back for several days to clean..can take a long time..if done right.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • Mad Dog
    Mad Dog Member Posts: 2,595
    I've seen more \"bad\" piping jobs put out dry steam with

    a clean boiler than dirty water on one of my own "overkill" pipe jobs. Never underestimate the effect of prodigoius cleaning. The guys are right though topo...keep pressure low and hope its piped right. Mad Dog

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