ongoing steam problem

ken_36

Only in the morning while trying to bring the home up from 65 to 70 the boiler runs fine for 1 hr. Temp is at 69 sometimes 70. Boiler will short cycle bad for another hr. all the time going off on pressure. System is 1 pipe steam with small convectors. As discussed yesterday-- new and working main vents, new digital t-stat, new steam vents,boiler fired to load, pressuretrol set 1/2 cut in with 1 1/2 diff. All the time in the first hr. boiler runs great and heats great and never reached pressure. On a normal daily call for heat everything works great. Any more ideas cause I'm going nuts.

Unknown

Why is it taking so long to go up 5 degrees. An hour is long. It works great during the day because the t-stat doesn't have far to go to satisfy. I think you realy need to double check the venting stratagy on this. How much time before the main vent gets hot in the morning ? The faster the air can get out on first start up the quiker the t-stat will satisfy.

ken_36

the main vent has steam within 5 minutes of startup

Mad Dog_2

Have you had a steam pro in there Ken?

Several here around the USA to help you. Mad Dog

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Unknown

It sounds like you have everything right. There must be some small detail thats being overlooked. Good luck.

dwk

steam problem

dwk

steam problem

check your new t-stat and see if it can be used on a steam system. I ran into this and had to replace with one compatible .
DJ

thfurnitureguy_4

Radiation to heat loss

Ken, how does your radiation compair to the heat loss? Granted you must size the boiler to the existing radiation, but if it is taking a long time to warm the structure, you are not emiting enough heat to cover the heat loss. It will work fine with a normal load. It may not be enough on a really cold day. The good news, if this is the case, you could really gain efficiency with more insulation in the home. What I think, is that all of your radiators are fully heated and vents are closed. The boiler must shut off on pressure as long as the stat is calling and the radiators are creeping the temp back up. Solution: bigger boiler and bigger radiators, bigger fuel bill or more insulation, windows ect.= less load and a lower fuel bill

gerry gill

easy, either don't do setback or

stage fire the boiler based on pressure..like Mad Dog says, you will need a pro for that..

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

ken_37

can a fast vent like a #6 BE TOO FAST on the first floor and causing vents to close ans stay closed and causing the shortcycling. Just finished the chapter "It's all in the venting" In the LOst Art of Steam Heating

gerry gill

dought it.



To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Mad Dog_2

Sounds like he coulda used a pro a while back

Mad Dog

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

T-O

It sounds that your boiler is about 30% or a more undersize. Maybe it matches your heating units EDR load, but does not have pick up load which is normally 33% of EDR. Net load at boiler should be EDR radiator load X 1.33 (normaly used as pick up load)if the boiler is used for heating the radiators only. The boiler will need to run longer just to heat up the pipes and heating units before the steam stops condendensing in them. Also if your the boiler if not fired for about 5 to 6 hour since the thersmostat is set back from 70 to 65 at night, it would take longer to heat up the cold water (even longer if it is an older boiler that has a larger chest). So, if this is the case your system is running as effeciently as it can be expected. If this long morning cycle is disturbing to you, try setting back the temperautre to 68 instead of 65 and see if that is better. Also, as you know, insulating mains, header, etc will help, as well as better insulation around the house.
T-O

thfurnitureguy_4

Net

TO, I may have misread but, the Net I=B=R rating includes the pickup factor for normal piping. So if his piping is normal the Net figure should be = to the radiator's sq ft. if his boiler to radiator ratio is correct it sounds like both are too small for the responce he wants. Like a small engine in a big car. Great milage on the highway, not to much fun at the track.