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.

carlin burner j98022 / steam boiler question/problem

gypsy
gypsy Member Posts: 84
Something is wrong with something...  Carlin gas burner is now running (after not all day) but not running long enough to produce heat.  It seems this started with an overfilled boiler??  a radiator was removed to re tile a floor and has not yet been replaced.  Im not sure if this is the problem or not (it is a very small radiator-3 sections).  I drained the boiler down so the water showed about an inch from the top of the glass-which is where it seems to like to be, hit the breaker and the switch on the boiler and it restarted after about 20 minutes.  The burner fan? turned on and off several times before it fired up and has fired about 4 times in the last hour.  Unfortunately though its not producing any heat.... and seems dead again... will check and return...  water level ok, pressure ok, burner off, no heat... i checked the water temp at faucet and it was almost 175 then started dropping off... burner hasnt kicked back on and still no heat... any suggestions (its cold out)?



Other info... the boiler is a tankless arcoliner that was converted from oil before i inherited it.  the water is rusty.  i change the water out in the spring-its due soon.  there is no low water cut off, but there is a high water cut off.  I never-and really i do mean never-have to add water to the system.  it runs at 1 psi.  the aquastat is corroding and needs replacing-was planning on doing this soon when i flushed the boiler- and water temp is set at 175...  the high water cut off is a McDonnell 369-it says low water cut off but i was told it was wired to be a high water cutoff... the arcoliner is a 154T series eBT J3.

Comments

  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    low water cut off

    is what it says, a low water cut off. Add an inch more water, send us a picture and tap the low water cut off with the palm of your hand. Also find a new boiler Tech.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    The pressure trol may also not be

    registering properly. Is there a curly pipe under the pressuretrol?
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    added and tapped

    I added a half inch-otherwise it will be above the glass...tapped the cut off a couple times... orange light came on burner, nothing else...  if the pressuretrol is what i think it is, there is a copper pipe going from it into the boiler with a full circle loop between it and the boiler...  pic of which part?
  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    added another half inch of water...

    still nothing but an orange light... fyi, theres another pressure guage that i think is original to the arcoliner.  its just a guage on the top front of the boiler... it also reads at about 1...  re pic of which... i could send a bunch, just dont want to inundate post or send whats not needed...  ps.  thanks for the responses!
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    A general photo of the system from a few feet back

    and one of the burner and one of the pressure trol.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    Pics...

    Well, i guess i shouldnt have asked, lol... here's all of it...
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    In the photo of the switch

    are you sure all the wires are properly connected? How adept are you at testing wires? Can you temporarily adjust the pressure trol up in pressure? The pigtail( that curled pipe) may be clogged. The Low water cut off could be stuck. I am guessing you are saving up for a new boiler. If not you should.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    Where are you located?

    the boiler may need a person to check it out live.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    wires etc.

    Considering you confirmed that the last boilerman who was here didnt know what he was talking about when he said the low water was a high water im pretty sure the wires arent connected properly-or maybe they are,who knows-he was baffled by them.  Unfortunately i have no idea how to test them, etc...  The cut off being shot is a possible.. Someone else said it might be going too.  I didnt think that would shut everything off though. Can i just move the lever up on the pressuretrol? and how high?  i have someone coming tomorrow i think, if its not running tonight...  ill leave the pigtail alone for now-i have no idea what to do with that...  Im nursing every last little bit of life i can get into it :)
  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    edited April 2011
    location, etc.

    think removing that radiator might have somehow let a bunch of sludge back down into the boiler to do this?  ... just wondering b/c i could always drain the whole thing now while its not working...
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    The low water cut off does just that

    It is a safety device that should cut off the burner if the boiler is low on water. If you get some hot water that tells me the aquastat is running the boiler for hot water which means it shuts off the boiler around 180 degrees. The pressuretrol (the gray thingy on the curly thingy as it is known) shuts off the boiler if steam pressure is built up from a heat call. The thermostat is what calls for the burner to make steam. Best of luck, thankfully it is not January.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    cut off...

    and i think that may be why he was baffled, lol.  maybe it is shutting everythig down when the water is high?  ug..  thank you for all the info, i very much appreciate it.  im off to fiddle with the grey thingy and the curly thingy.  Happy night!
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    The removed radiator is a red herring

    Something else was touched. Try tightening the screw on the top of the pressuretrol just a bit. we prefer lowering the pressure there but sometimes it needs raised to get you heat for the night. If you do not have heat by tomorrow call me I am going past worcester on Friday in the morning.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    edited April 2011
    ...

  • gypsy
    gypsy Member Posts: 84
    heat!

    Turns out the low water cut off was shot and needed re building.  Thank you again for all your help!
This discussion has been closed.