Draining water

Scott Brink_2

Lately I have had water building up in the system. I have a one pipe steam, and if I don't drain out the water, I get pretty bad water hammers towards the end of the cycle.

Our hot water is supplied directly from the boiler, but I didn't think that would be the source of the extra water being added to the system.

Any thoughts?

Jeff Lawrence_25

You have a coil in the boiler

for the hot water? There may be a possibility that the HW coil may be leaking.

Try this: Shut off the water to the coil and get the water level in the steam boiler to the correct level. Let the boiler run a 'normal' cycle and see if you have the hammering. This should tell you if you have a leaking coil.

Good luck.

Ken_40

Jeff's got it!

Either the boiler's water feed-valve is weeping, allowing the boiler to "flood" over time from water "sneaking" past the bad valve, or the tankless coil has a minute, pinhole leak - and IT'S flooding the boiler. Either problem would be somewhat contstant.

One thing you can try is this: Take a screw-driver and place the point on the feed valve body. Put the other end firmly pressing to your ear. Do not hold the screwdriver with your hand (that will dampen sound transmission), merely between the valve body and your ear. With the house dead quiet, you will hear a "hissing" sound - if in fact water is leaking past the feed valve. Unless the water flow is literally droplets per hour, this method is as good as any. As an additional measure, close the feed stop as done normally/typically, then dead nuts tight (unless a ball valve - which is not going to close any tighter with added effort than just plain closed), and listen again.

If normal tension makes a barely audible hiss, and hard closure reduces or eliminates the sound, the feed valve's shot.

More towards the esoteric: it could also be a partial blockage of the condensta return piping, or, if you have an automaitic water feeder, the priming and surging of the LWCO is faking out the feeder, calling for a drink when none is actually required.

Ed N.Y.C.

Scott

To check a coil I shut off both hot and cold lines to coil, remove domestic relief and install pressure gauge then open both valves to put pressure back on coil. see what gauge reads then shut off both valves. If pressure drops coil bad . hope this helps ED