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.

How much make-up water is too much?

I would presume zero would be ideal. I have noticed that since my Burnham Megasteam was installed on 12/19, the hydrolevel vxt-120 auto water feeder meter has gone from 2 to 3. Is that a measurement in gallons? Too much?

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    These units usually read 002 fresh out of the box, so that's a net of one gallon. Not too bad, but it would be worth looking for a leaky vent or packing nut.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    Is the water in the sight glass a little higher than it started out at, when the boiler is idle? New boilers need a lot of skimming to stabalize the water. It is possible that the boiler water is turbulant enough that it trips the water feeder during a heating cycle and then is slightly over-filled at the end of the heating cycle and all the condensate returns to the boiler.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,168
    That amount is not a problem. Granted, zero would be ideal, but... this is not an ideal world. And yes, that is in gallons.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • BurntFingers
    BurntFingers Member Posts: 38
    Since the cold wave hit us, I've been loosing about 1/2 inch in my glass everyday. Checking chimney, it's good. I think it's spitting out my Gorton 2's.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Have you actually seen water or steam coming out of those vents?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting