leak...still.

paul sr.

maybe a small leak at a tankless gasket or casting, just enough to drop the press but steam off before it hits the ground? seen that before. paul sr.

Timco

Sooo..

This past winter, I had a leak. and still do. Throughout the summer,with the system off, I have filled to just below 30#, and a week later, it's at 20#, but holds there. All winter long, as the system heats, it fell to the point that it would not flow properly. (single story, 2-pipe hot water system.) Am I just plain missing an obvious leak? Am I blind? No water around the boiler, or on any pipes, or under any rads. I figured by filling to 30#, I might see more water, but not the case.

Advise, Please!!!

Thanks, Tim

Steamhead

Check the safety valve

to see that it's not leaking. If there is a safety valve on the boiler that appears OK, check to see if an older one is still mounted on the water supply piping to the boiler. Many times these were routed to laundry trays or floor drains so a leak would be harder to see.

If this is an older boiler and there's no safety valve on it, the safety is likely in the water supply line as described above. If there's no safety valve anywhere, have one installed NOW!

Jon Gerstad

System Pressure

Most likly, your sysyem pressure won't fall below 20psi because that's what your pressure reducing valve is set at. For most 1 story 2 pipe hydronic systems, a setting of between 15 to 18 psi is sufficient, but that depends on alot of variables (boiler size, pipe size, # of radiators, pump head, etc...)
Now, here's the scoop (pun intended), air compreses much more than water, so, if there's any air in the system, it'll make the guage reading meaningless, until you bleed and fill,bleed and fill, run the pump, then bleed and fill again. But you also stated that the water level gets so low as to impede proper circulation. How's the air getting in? If your old boiler has the pump on the return line, I'd start by checking the bleed valves on the radiators closest to the pump. The bleed valves could be alowing air into your system, put your ear against them while the pump is running. If you find that you do have excessive air in the system, my suggestion would be to instal an air scoop device.
So, what's happening to all that water you seem to be losing? Well, this is based uoon the conjecture that maybe you never had as much water in the system as you thought you did. That you got erronious pressure readings because of compressed air trapped in the system, and that only some of it was bled out automatically by you present air-eliminator valve.

Timco

Thanks, but...

I am sure all the rads are bled, and I bypass the press reg to get it filled to just below 30#, then shut off the fill valve, to check for leaks. I guessed by getting it up in press, a leak might be more obvious. I run it at 15# normally. The relief valve is 30#, thus the reason I fill it to 28# to check for leaks. No drain is installed, just the hose bib to drain the boiler. The press valve is bone dry, no leak there. That is why I am soo stumped. Where is the pressure going? I do have a scoop...1/2" off the feed manifold, that reduces to 3/8 galv to get the vent above the highest pipe.

Thanks again,

T

Wayco Wayne_2

If you are

filling up to 30 you are at the pressure that the pop off valve will vent. As soon as you warm the water up the water volume will increase and the pressure relief will let some water out. Put a bucket of something under so you can prove or disprove this is happening. Also what kind of expansion tank does the system have??

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Timco

Exp tank is a honeywell 4.4 gal, tk300-30 that is brand new. I charged it to 15# prior to install.

The press valve is always dry, and as I run the pumps to get the air stirred up, I do not let it heat (summer, no need) so I know steam is not comming off the boiler.(tankless) I also checked in the winter to see if steam was comming out the main vent through the roof..nothing there.

T

Joe@buderus_2

What About the gauge?

Possible the gauge is not working? Try dropping pressure to 5lbs and see if gauge drops as well.

clammy

loops under ground

If you have baseboard do any of the loops come through the slab check there peace clammy