Safety question re: old boiler

Ron Schroeder

is probably expansion noise gurgle is air, if pressure climbs again get system pressure to zero and check the pressure in tank with a tire gauge, sharader valve is on bottom under plastic cap. Make sure its 12PSI

M.P.

Safety question re: old boiler

We have an old gas-fired boiler that fires our finned hot water baseboard system in our new (new to us, built in 1964) house. We are planning to replace it with a high efficiency condensing boiler in preparation for an eventual staple-up radiant heat system, but in the mean time, it's gotten chilly and we'd like to run the heat we have.

Problem is, when I fired it up for the first time last night, a pressure relief valve let loose and dribbled about a half gallon of water on our basement floor. We've had two different professionals tell us the unit was poorly installed, and the thing is about 20 years old and due for a replacement because it wasn't particularly well maintained.
So I'm concerned about the safety of running it.

I looked at a gauge on the unit that shows water temp and pressure, and the pressure valve blow came when the water temp reading was 100 deg. I didn't see what the psi had gotten to before the valve released, but it was about 25 psi after the valve had shut off and it continued to climb to 35 psi as the water temp rose to 150 before I got nervous and shut the thing off.

I'm wondering if the pressure release is just a normal result of the water temps rising and expanding in the piping or if there's something else wrong here. The first plumber that came through did say that the pressure relief tank was installed funny (it's laying on its side, rather than vertical). Do you think that could be the issue here?

I realize it's hard to know without looking at the system yourselves, but is the opening of the pressure release valve a real safety risk for me? The floor in my basement is concrete, so I'm not particularly upset about a little water dribbling on it periodically, but I'm wondering if this is a real safety risk that should force me to keep the thing off until I can replace it.

Thoughts?

Weezbo

let me conjecture

> We have an old gas-fired boiler that fires our

> finned hot water baseboard system in our new (new

> to us, built in 1964) house. We are planning to

> replace it with a high efficiency condensing

> boiler in preparation for an eventual staple-up

> radiant heat system, but in the mean time, it's

> gotten chilly and we'd like to run the heat we

> have.

>

> Problem is, when I fired it up for the

> first time last night, a pressure relief valve

> let loose and dribbled about a half gallon of

> water on our basement floor. We've had two

> different professionals tell us the unit was

> poorly installed, and the thing is about 20 years

> old and due for a replacement because it wasn't

> particularly well maintained. So I'm concerned

> about the safety of running it.

>

> I looked at a

> gauge on the unit that shows water temp and

> pressure, and the pressure valve blow came when

> the water temp reading was 100 deg. I didn't see

> what the psi had gotten to before the valve

> released, but it was about 25 psi after the valve

> had shut off and it continued to climb to 35 psi

> as the water temp rose to 150 before I got

> nervous and shut the thing off.

>

> I'm wondering

> if the pressure release is just a normal result

> of the water temps rising and expanding in the

> piping or if there's something else wrong here.

> The first plumber that came through did say that

> the pressure relief tank was installed funny

> (it's laying on its side, rather than vertical).

> Do you think that could be the issue here?

>

> I

> realize it's hard to know without looking at the

> system yourselves, but is the opening of the

> pressure release valve a real safety risk for

> me? The floor in my basement is concrete, so I'm

> not particularly upset about a little water

> dribbling on it periodically, but I'm wondering

> if this is a real safety risk that should force

> me to keep the thing off until I can replace

> it.

>

> Thoughts?

Weezbo

let me conjecture

you hace a coil or side arm for Domestic hot water....

or the fast fill is defunct.

try this . gate off the make up water supply pipe.. drain the pressure down to 10 psi fire it back up...

should the pressure rise to the point the relife valve dumps...then the coil is in existence...with a pinner leak.

M.P.

Domestic hot water

Actually, domestic hot water is supplied by an electric (ugh) tank water heater. It's possible that the boiler has a coil for hot water that's no longer being used--I'm not really educated enough on this to be able to tell.

Is a defunct "fast-fill" a safety hazzard if I want to run the thing for the next few days?

Ron Schroeder

I would quess

That you either have a waterlogged compression tank or a diaphram type expansion tank that has lost its charge. If the former usually a round tank on the cieling or if the latter a tank about 5-10 gallon in size hanging off a pipe or air scoop. Can you take a pic of the set up.

M.P.

Update

I drained the pressure down to 12 psi and the system is now running. The pressure has only climbed to 16 psi so far, and looks like it's running stable.

A couple issues:
1. We appear to have both kinds of expansion tanks--one cylinder bolted to the ceiling that may be out of use, and one diaphram expansion tank installed right near the boiler. Given the stability of the pressure so far, I think I'm not going to worry about the expansion tanks.

2. Now that the pressure has been lowered, I'm hearing occasional "tink" and very slight "gurgle" sounds from the pipes. I don't know if this means we've got air in the lines or if that's just the way these systems are. Should I be concerned in the short run?