Sight glass water level bouncing (video). Normal?

Bodycount · January 2022

Thoughts?

https://imgur.com/a/9Q7nbpE

JohnNY · January 2022

It's fine. It's normal fluctuation.

Dan_NJ · January 2022

It's fine. Nothing to see here. If it were mine I would clean that glass and see about cleaning up / skimming / flushing the thing. It took me a few seasons to get the new boiler cleaned up to the point where I don't get any crud on the glass.

Bodycount · January 2022

Thank you for the input.

I would quickly like to say that when I found this forum, I feel as though I’ve found my people. lol.

Background- this is one of two boilers in a two family I own and maintain. This GSA boiler is for the 2nd fl. apt. and has been giving me trouble all season. I’m determined to get her settled down to operate more effectively/ efficiently.

Here are some tidbits of info.

That sight glass was thoroughly cleaned about 3 weeks ago.

I’ve been draining sludge out regularly.

I’m pretty sure the tenant keeps the thermostat high, so it’s running most of the time (short cycling periods).

I’ve never fully flushed this boiler out. That’s going to have to wait until the end of the 2022 heating season.

I was going to add 8 way to break loose all the accumulated gunk, but decided against that.

Bodycount · January 2022

https://m.imgur.com/a/2wD5Rmw

overview pic of boiler(s).

ethicalpaul · January 2022

That's not enough of an overview

I can't see if there's a header on the green one (Williamson I assume), but the gray one is piped dramatically incorrectly so I assume the worst for the green one.

Bodycount · January 2022

Good to know. I’ll start a separate discussion.

ethicalpaul · January 2022

This thread is fine or a new one is fine...I just meant your overview photo didn't show enough of the surrounding piping to be able to get the whole picture

Bodycount · January 2022

Images. 1994 Hydro-Therm

EBEBRATT-Ed · January 2022

piped awful since 1994

Bodycount · January 2022

https://m.imgur.com/luR3mZE

Video walk through.

Also, I’m open too hearing the notable specific issues as apposed to broad generalized comments.

ethicalpaul · January 2022

Spare parts:

Sorry @Bodycount but sometimes gallows humor is all we have. The piping on this boiler is very incorrect. Maybe it's working OK though. Your water level looked OK enough.

I'm a bit confused...you said the GSA (green Williamson boiler, right?) was giving you trouble, but you posted more pictures of the gray one.

Edit: I saw your video, the GSA is also piped very incorrectly.

Bodycount · January 2022

That hanging pipe with the 90 is a spare for the wet side vent.

JohnNY · January 2022

This is hysterical.
Someone got paid to do this.

ethicalpaul · January 2022

@Bodycount I went back and read your posts to find what we could help you with but I didn't find anything specific. You saw the general feedback about the piping, did you have a specific issue we could try to answer?

Sight glass water level bouncing (video). Normal?

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