Dimention A

walter_7

The "A" dimension is actually measured from the waterline to the "lowest steam carrying pipe" (wherever in the system that may be - it could be on the opposite side of the cellar) and it should be minimum 28" (not 24"). It is not the distance from the waterline to the header (which, yes, is 24" in many modern systems). Turn down the aquastat.

kevin coppinger_4

would a symptom....

of too short of a dimention A (24" above the waterline) be... getting steam up into the main and out into some of the near by radiators w/o getting a call for heat , but only hot water? kpc

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Unknown

What is

the aquastat set at ? Even with a lower A dimension , that shouldn't be happening if it's set in the range we use - 140 to 160 degrees . Could it be happening by conduction ?

Christian Egli

Ghost steam

The A dimension keeps condensate from returning backwards into the main. It does not stop steam from entering forwards. Lack of A dimension becomes critical when boiler pressure is too high. Cranking it down will compensate for lack of A height.

As far as getting minimal steam while only wanting hot water, this would be a symptom of an aquastat set too high.

I am assuming your boiler is equipped with an aquastat to satisfy hot water demand. Is it set too high, too near 212F?

At 120F, you could possibly get minimal whiffs of vapor, but never enough to heat radiators.

If there is none, you should install one. To make things simpler, installing a separate, independent water heater might be best, particularly if you’re on natural gas.

Leo

If the water level is set to the minimum level and a long shower is taken this can happen also.

Leo

kevin coppinger_4

this is .....

a system I started working on about a year ago. I added an Indirect to the system and have not touched the steam piping. It has a HW4006 and I added a Vaporstat ( the 4006 is set at 160F). I went by fri to clean out all the junk because it had never been done. Before I started I did notice that the main was pretty warm, now after cleanig out the boiler and adding some squick to the system the 1st rad is getting a bit hot.The original installer did not pipe up to the 24" before going horizontal....
I added the indirect because the boiler was power vented and the stand alone gas water heater(vented into an outside chimney) was killing the chimney, literally. kpc

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J.C.A._3

Kevin,

Pull the well out and clean all the "GOO" off of it. The sensor is only as good as the well it's inserted into, and my bet would be there is a lot of crud on it. (Forget about the "heat sensing paste", they should call it heat well welding compound!) Chris

kevin coppinger_4

got it....

I flushed out the SSU45 Hx yesterday and it was very mucky. I also noticed that the y strainer was Semi plugged. I am sure the well would be caked. TY,kpc

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Unknown

Kevin

Where is the aquastat installed and how did you pipe the Indirect in reference to the boiler. It is most preferable to supply out of the boiler high (just below water level) and to return on the opposite corner of the boiler low so that temperatures don't stack within the boiler. The aquastat needs to sense the supply water temperature so as not to overheat the boiler. Hope this helps.


Glenn Stanton

Manager of Training

Burnham Hydronics

U.S. Boiler Co., Inc.

kevin coppinger_4

Glenn...

> Where is the aquastat installed and how did you

> pipe the Indirect in reference to the boiler. It

> is most preferable to supply out of the boiler

> high (just below water level) and to return on

> the opposite corner of the boiler low so that

> temperatures don't stack within the boiler. The

> aquastat needs to sense the supply water

> temperature so as not to overheat the boiler.

> Hope this helps.

>

> Glenn Stanton

>

> Manager of

> Training

>

> Burnham Hydronics

>

> U.S. Boiler Co.,

> Inc.





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kevin coppinger_4

Glenn...

> Where is the aquastat installed and how did you

> pipe the Indirect in reference to the boiler. It

> is most preferable to supply out of the boiler

> high (just below water level) and to return on

> the opposite corner of the boiler low so that

> temperatures don't stack within the boiler. The

> aquastat needs to sense the supply water

> temperature so as not to overheat the boiler.

> Hope this helps.

>

> Glenn Stanton

>

> Manager of

> Training

>

> Burnham Hydronics

>

> U.S. Boiler Co.,

> Inc.





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

kevin coppinger_4

Glenn...

> Where is the aquastat installed and how did you

> pipe the Indirect in reference to the boiler. It

> is most preferable to supply out of the boiler

> high (just below water level) and to return on

> the opposite corner of the boiler low so that

> temperatures don't stack within the boiler. The

> aquastat needs to sense the supply water

> temperature so as not to overheat the boiler.

> Hope this helps.

>

> Glenn Stanton

>

> Manager of

> Training

>

> Burnham Hydronics

>

> U.S. Boiler Co.,

> Inc.





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

kevin coppinger_4

Glenn...

thats the way it is piped...My next Queston is should I go with a strap on aqustat vs. the well type. I am pretty sure it is on the supply. Thanks for your help...kpc

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RonWHC

Cast iron steam boilers

can, & will, steam when heating H/W. No matter where you install the aquastat. If it is in a section, or a coil, the only temperature being sensed is in that area. Another section(s) can steam because it is not contributing to the load required for H/W. Think of each section as a separate boiler. Then picture the bottom of the top nipple port in relation to the normal water line.

If you strap an aquastat to the supply for the indirect, the aquastat only knows what the temperature is in the supply pipe. It does not know, nor can it control, the temperature in the rest of the sections when heating the water.

The easiest solution, for summertime H/W heating in a cast iron steam boiler, is to raise the water level to the top of the glass. Hard to make steam in a flooded boiler.