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We got a new boiler installed a month ago(x-2 series boiler) Every time it is on the basement stinks like sewage the company we used has no answers as to what is happening. One day after the install the boiler blew about 3 gallons of water on the floor. They said the PSI must have been too high. We just don’t know where to begin, any suggestions?
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A sewage smell is not common from a boiler -- but if there is inadequate combustion air coming from anywhere else, and there is a dry trap in a floor drain (not at all unusual!) that would do it.
Where to begin? Find a competent contractor. Where are you located? We may know someone...
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England.
Hoffman Equipped System (all original except boiler), Weil-Mclain 580, 2.75 gph Carlin, Vapourstat 0.5 -- 6.0 ounces per square inch
It could be pulling sewer gas out of either an open or loosely sealed pipe fitting or floor drain or washer drain which have dried up traps.
How well are the sewer drain pipes to the right of the boiler sealed up?
Do you have cast iron radiators?
Just that sewer gas can be pulled out when the boiler fires.
You could open a window and see if the smell persists with free flowing combustion air coming into the basement.
We installed a Peerless oil fired this winter for the secretary where I work. She went crazy for 3-4 days while it burned off. Kept the windows open while she was home. Finally disapated
Also does the slop sink have a drain trap under it?
@angdell120 Does the smell, smell like it is low tide near the rocks at Hammonasset? Then it is probably the drain pipes behind and to the right of the boiler. A few things do not look correct there. The rubber fittings, or fernco fittings that are installed on the cast iron drain pipes might need to be looked at. From the picture I can see that the drain plug clean out is against code.
Do have the plumber come back. Have them look for the cause of the smell and install a proper clean out plug. That plug might be that cause of the smell.
Albert Einstein
The force of the water from the pony pump could've opened a sweat joint. DWV copper?
I would cut it below the tee and put a new furnco cap on.
HeatingHelp.com
cell # 413-841-6726
https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
It was not uncommon to vent sewer lines into chimneys years ago, (one less hole in the roof, connected sewer vent in the attic into the chimney). Cold down draft could pull sewer gas down until boiler fired. If your old boiler has a standing pilot light it may have kept the chimney warm enough to maintain gravity flow upward.
You should see at least one sewer/drain vent pipe thru your roof.
How close is it to your chimney?
Or you could have a loose lead joint in the CI piping. Water would not leak out as the flow is into the hubs. Smoke may have went out thru the roof vent if there is one. The lead can possibly be re-tamped if loose.
Was the boiler firing with all doors and windows closed when the smoke test was done? And was the sewer roof vent plugged for the smoke test?
cell # 413-841-6726
https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
Which one of these 3 do the boiler?
How about a gas water heater, how is that vented?
cell # 413-841-6726
https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating