Low Water Cutoff Maintenance

Edward A. (Ed) Carey_3

See the attached for your #67.

TJC_2

Low Water Cutoff Won't Dump

The plaque on my low water cutoff has maintenance instructions. "Open dump valve and flush float chamber once per month during heating season."

How do I flush this system? With the boiler NOT firing, I turn the yellow handled valve and nothing comes out.

Al Letellier_9

flushing low water cut off

IF nothing comes out, you have a problem. I advise my customers to flush the low water cutoff while the boiler is running and making steam. It's the only way to really clean out the casing and make sure the device is working.
CAUTION: make sure the blow off is piped to a safe place or where you can get a bucket under it. Live steam can and will burn you, even at low pressure. The manufacturer of this device also recommends that it be dismantled and clean every 2 years....get a pro to check it out and save your boiler from almost certain early death if the LWCO is not working.

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

Unknown

Bungalow..........

Looks to me like this has been long overdue for a "blowdown"!
If you open the blowdown valve, and nothing comes-out, that means it`s plugged-up by the sediment that should have been BO before. Generally you do it with steam pressure sitting on top of the water, but it`s a little late for that now. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES push anything up in-it, this is a CRITICAL Control that`s been neglected, its time for a pro!!
DON`T DELAY!!

Dan_29

low water cutoff-blow down valve

Your blow down valve is plugged with rust. Mine used to plug up every other year. Rust settles just above the blow down ball valve in the off season. Your low water cutoff float may be stuck also and your pigtail to the pressure trol may be plugged also. The whole (low water) assembly needs to be drained and taken apart. Al is right-call a pro unless your are very handy and learn very fast. Steam is not a system you want to learn about by trial and error.

Edward A. (Ed) Carey_3

LWCO Maint

Blow down once per week. Disassemble, clean & inspect once each year. See attached for your MM #67 LWCO.

In the I&O manual and the card that accompanies the LWCO, the manufacturer states that you have to bring the boiler to full operating temperature for the blow down. On a steam boiler that would equate to full steam pressure.

Per your photo, your blow down pipe is not correct, and you could be burned if you try to blow this down under pressure.

If it is not releasing the sediment, it must COME APART NOW and be cleaned. If you are not absolutely sure how to do this, please contact a pro.

Ed Carey