Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Boiler Noise?

Options
alotlikeearl
alotlikeearl Member Posts: 68
in THE MAIN WALL
Have a customer with a New Yorker CG50 cast iron, gas fired boiler.  Within about a minute of the burners firing it begins to make a sort of gugling/popping noise that sounds like the water is boiling.  Temperature of supply pipe off boiler is about 165 degrees.  The noise is only in the boiler itself not in any piping.  System has 2 zones of baseboard with circulators and heats fine with no noise in the baseboard.  Is it possible sediment could be causing the noise like sometimes happens with water heaters?  The noise continues for about a minute after the burners shut off. Ideas?

Jerry

Comments

  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,002
    Options
    Boiler noise

    What is the system pressure at the boiler?



    It could also be that for some reason, water is not moving quickly enough past the heat exchanger.  With slow moving water, it picks up too much heat and starts to boil.  Check to make sure the pump is working properly and you have at least 10-15 psi of pressure.
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • alotlikeearl
    alotlikeearl Member Posts: 68
    Options
    Pressure OK

    Alan,

    Pressure is right on 12 PSI though the pressure guage does pulse while the burners are fired.  If the water was hot enough to boil, wouldn't I have more than 165 degree supply pipe temperature?

    Thanks!  Jerry
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,002
    Options
    Noise

    I suppose you're right. 



    When does the noise occur?  Zone A on? Zone B on? Both zones on?



    Alan
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • David Sutton_6
    David Sutton_6 Member Posts: 1,079
    Options
    Sandcasting

    i had the same thing happen with a boiler ( to remain nameless to protect the innocent ) the rep came out and said it was sand trapped in the boiler they said its happen few times before that knew of and gave us a new boiler,...Wa-La ..... no more sounds :-)



    David

    aka DrPepper
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
    edited March 2011
    Options
    I've had THREE different manufacturers with THAT problem...

    Including one German manufacturer. I guess you could say it could be a problem.



    It could also indicate an ongoing unseen leak, and subsequent lime scale accumulation at the heat transfer surface. Feel the makeup line where it goes into the boiler. If it is cold, it indicates fresh water (mineral laden) being taken on. If you suspect a leak, turn the make up water to the boiler off, and turn the boiler off, and if the water pressure drops to 0 overnight, then you definitely have a leak...



    ME
    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.
  • alotlikeearl
    alotlikeearl Member Posts: 68
    Options
    Sandcasting

    David,

    Was your experience immediate with a new boiler or after a few years service?  This boiler is 10 years old and problem just recently began.

    Thanks for the info!     Jerry
  • David Sutton_6
    David Sutton_6 Member Posts: 1,079
    Options
    this was new

    It was a brand new shinny boiler it started about 5 min after start up,



    David
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    Options
    It could also be

    sand and other solid debris in the bottom of the boiler and when the burners come on, the debris traps water and makes it boil like what happens with domestic water heaters. Have you tried flushing out the boiler and trying to get any crud out of the boiler? It will act like low flow.
  • alotlikeearl
    alotlikeearl Member Posts: 68
    Options
    Icesailor

    That's what one of our guys suspects but I just had never seen it happen in a boiler. 
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    Options
    Boiler Noise:

    I've seen it a lot. Just not to the degree you are writing about. It usually makes a racket after it shuts off.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories