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“Tinkling” sound in system

northernsoul
northernsoul Member Posts: 134
Hi there

Gas boiler system with original 1930s rads and metal expansion tank.

This last day or so it sounds like a tinkling sound coming from pipes/expansion tank in the boiler room. It happened around this time last year as well and lasted for a few weeks. Hasn’t happened until now this heating season

Not sure if a pipe is loose or there is something in the tank- it’s like the sound of a small piece of metal moving or the sound when a pot lid rattles when boiling .

Expansion tank was emptied and recharged weeks ago.

Any ideas ?

Comments

  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    I should add that it seems to mainly happened when system starts and then for about 30 min after it shuts off.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    How about a rattling flow check valve; would only chatter when the pump is running.
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    Is that the pressure setting valve on the water pipe ?
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Back up and take pictures around the boiler.
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    I can do that - we did just replace the auto feed valve this year
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    > @JUGHNE said:
    > Back up and take pictures around the boiler.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Need to look at the pipes above the boiler.
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    > @JUGHNE said:
    > Need to look at the pipes above the boiler.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Does the sound correlate with the pump operation.
    Can you back up more for pictures....too close.
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    > @JUGHNE said:
    > Does the sound correlate with the pump operation.
    > Can you back up more for pictures....too close.

    Good question - how long would a pump normally run after it stops heating ? The pump is very quiet so I’ll need to go inspect next time it runs.

    I had thought it was maybe something loose in expansion tank . Hard to isolate sound so far
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    I don't see any flow checks in the pictures.
    They could be hiding somewhere in there though.

    They were to prevent unwanted gravity flow of hot water in parts of the system. The pump pressure would lift a weighed disc in the valve. Sometime not enough pressure to completely lift and produce chatter.
    You may have only one zone however.

    Google "Flow check valves" for pictures.
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    Thanks I’ll have a look. I had thought maybe it was a loose piece of solder in a pipe or tank rattling
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,160
    It it's really tinkling, and not a lower frequency sound, it might be a little air in there somewhere. Or even expansion -- which might have an almost musical "plink" kind of sound.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    > @Jamie Hall said:
    > It it's really tinkling, and not a lower frequency sound, it might be a little air in there somewhere. Or even expansion -- which might have an almost musical "plink" kind of sound.

    Yes it’s a high frequency tinkling sound - hard to describe but like a small piece of aluminium rattling in a jar etc.
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    Well turns out it was a nail from subfloor above that was resting against top of tank so when system was running and vibrating a little it was rattling against nail.

    Whoever did the new floor a few years ago didn’ pay attention to the basement fittings
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542

    Well turns out it was a nail from subfloor above that was resting against top of tank so when system was running and vibrating a little it was rattling against nail.



    Whoever did the new floor a few years ago didn’ pay attention to the basement fittings

    You're fortunate they didn't drive a nail into the tank. Glad you got this resolved.
  • northernsoul
    northernsoul Member Posts: 134
    > @Fred said:
    > Well turns out it was a nail from subfloor above that was resting against top of tank so when system was running and vibrating a little it was rattling against nail.
    >
    >
    >
    > Whoever did the new floor a few years ago didn’ pay attention to the basement fittings
    >
    > You're fortunate they didn't drive a nail into the tank. Glad you got this resolved.

    Tell me about it!