Advice Needed on Heating System Problems

Timco

What does the temp / pressure gauge say on the boiler? When you say 'tank', do you mean boiler? What is the name / model of it, and what does the lable or tag say. There should be a gauge on it. This will give you pressure and temp. Is there a pump moving the water around? Follow the pipes from the 'tank'. If so it(they) will be close. One t-stat for the entire house?

T

Steve_119

Advice Needed on Heating System Problems

I am renting a house that uses a tank of water in the basement that is heated and then steam goes to the radiators on the top 2 floors. The problem is that the house never gets anywhere near the setting we have on the thermostat. We have to set the thermostat to 75 to get a consistent temperature of 65 and our gas bill the past month was $265! I know the heat is on because the radiators do feel warm (not hot) and I verified that the radiators have been bleed and the tank has water in it. Other than that I am at a loss. Also, I don't know if this makes a difference but everytime the heat turns on we hear a loud banging in the pipes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Steve_119

It looks like it is a Bryant Gas Boiler Model 230-4WG Series C. There is 1 thermostat for the whole house. The temp on the boiler gauge reads 125-130. The other reading on the gauge has a single arrow pointing to 2 different scales -> 9lbs (I'd imagine this is the pressure) and 20ft (which I'd imagine is the amount of water in the boiler). There is 1 circulator on a single pipe that then splits into 2 pipes.

Steve_119

Also... it looks like according to the label on the boiler that it hasn't been serviced since 1993.

Empire_2

Solution

Since the unit has not been serviced in 12 years or so, it would be in your best interest to have this done. Once a year is the ideal senario for trouble free operation. Alot of things can happen in 12 years so get the boiler serviced. A professional tech. should be able to solve your problems plus advise you on what is wrong with the system. As much as you would like to do it yourself thru this forum, we cannot give you the total answer although we try.
Mike T.

Timco

As stated, you NEED to have a service, but until then, you may have either circulation problems or you could turn up the aquastat to 180* to get more heat output. If the return pipe is colder than the supply pipe, it is likely a circulation issue.

T

Tony_23

I thought,

the return should always be colder than the supply

A DRASTIC temp diff would indicate a circ not running. What type of circulator is it ?

Timco

I was taught 60* was the max difference after supply reaches temp...Should have specified. Was I mis-led?

T

Tony_23

60* ?

That's what I would call drastic. Once things are up and running for a few minutes, 20* would be about right. But, at 180 supply, you couldn't feel the difference with your hand

A 60deg diff would lead me to believe the circ was not operating.