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Which Pressuretrol do I need?

lbeachmike
lbeachmike Member Posts: 200
edited October 22 in THE MAIN WALL

My heating contractor serviced my steam boiler and recommended I replace the Pressuretrol due to it being "a bit temperamental". They said it is a p404a. If they replace it, they charge $400 for the part, so I'd like to furnish the part and waive the one-year part warranty.

I see more than one version of the p404a (I see a 1033 and 1025.) How can I determine exactly which one I have, or which is recommended for my boiler? It is very difficult to get behind this boiler to get a photo from the back of the unit.

Boiler is a Burnham:

Model Number: QSIN5SNC-HE2

Product Name: NatGrid Independence

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,317

    The last four numbers are printed on the control case. usually in a purple ink or a sticker. Take the cover off and look for the number.

    Those controls are not the most accurate measuring devices. What seems to be the issue? Is the boiler pressure going to high?

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,317

    Look on the sides also.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • lbeachmike
    lbeachmike Member Posts: 200
    edited October 22

    It's a rental property. The tenant has not complained at all. The heating contractor was fixing a different issue and simply said it wasn't behaving normally and would result in the unit kicking on and off more frequently. I did not get any clarity on the issue. What is the expected life on these? It is about 11 years old.

    Isn't it possible for me to find out which Pressuretrol is needed based on the model number of the boiler?

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,571
    edited October 22

    He's got it set a lot higher than I'd like to see it…it won't cut out until 3-5psi at that setting (3 psi according to the setting but maybe 5psi according to how bad this device operates).

    Those two models of pressuretrol are additive and subtractive. Either one can be used. The one in your picture is additive because it displays "Cut In" on the front indicator. It's this one which is the only kind of pressuretrol I've ever seen in NJ

    I wonder what he means by "unit kicking on and off more frequently".

    I don't know the expected life, but my last one lasted longer than my boiler, about 30 years with a good deal of cycling.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    lbeachmike
  • lbeachmike
    lbeachmike Member Posts: 200
    edited October 22

    Looks like the previous post answers my question about which part. It looks like it is the 1033 ($141 on Amazon, btw.) I guess the question now is whether or not it really needs replacement.

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,268

    Did anyone clean the pigtail under the control?

    If it is partially plugged that could throw the operation out of kilter.

    Also how is your steam main air venting?

    I have some of these controls 40-50 years old and still function as well as they always did……not real well even if brand new.

    ethicalpaul
  • lbeachmike
    lbeachmike Member Posts: 200

    The pigtails were not cleaned by this contractor. I guess that is a miss on their part.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,317

    So you need to get a steam person to look at this. If your guy is not a steam person, then they should not be learning on your dime.

    When was the last time you had someone do a complete maintenance on that boiler? Flush out the wet returns and the boiler? Check the pigtail for blockage, test the Low Water Cut Off? The stuff that keeps the boiler from destroying itself.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    ethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,571

    Ouch. His advice to purchase a new pressuretrol is highly suspect

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    EdTheHeaterMandelcrossv
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,293

    Replacing the pressuretrol is way down the list of things to do regarding boiler maintenance.

    Boiler flushed?

    Main vents checked/replaced?

    Low Water cutoff cleaned/checked?

    Pigtail cleaned?

    Gauge Glass cleaned?

    Heat exchanger cleaned ? ( really necessary for oil burners)

    Burners cleaned /serviced?

    And, after all that….

    Pressure still high? Then check pressuretrol.

    Note, for residential heating, that pressuretrol should be set as low as possible 1.5psi cut out, 1psi differential.

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,317

    @delcrossv said "Note, for residential heating, that pressuretrol should be set as low as possible 1.5psi cut out, 1psi differential."

    depending on the control you may need to set the cut out @ 1.5 PSI and the differential at 1 PSI Depends on what it says on the control… Cut In or Cut Out.

    Some controls are additive.

    And some controls are subtractive

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    delcrossv
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,293
    edited October 22

    I like subtractive so my instructions are for those. For some reason additive ones seem backwards to me.😜

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,571

    I just noticed the subtractive one (of this model) has a different range, that is weird. It goes from 3psi to 15psi. Not for residential!

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    delcrossv
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,293
    edited October 22
    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 692

    For the low pressures recommended, wouldn't a vaporstat be a better choice?

    A bit more expensive, but usually reported to be a better choice for operation at very low pressures for residential systems, or am I wrong about this?

    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,571
    edited October 23

    The benefit to a one-pipe system is IMO marginal. The effort should be put into sizing the boiler at replacement time. Then you don't need a pressure control to manage pressure except only rarely

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • lbeachmike
    lbeachmike Member Posts: 200

    Thanks - the main finding was a leaky 1 1/4" black pipe on the return, which will be replaced by a different contractor. I will have that contractor check out the pigtails and other items mentioned here as needed.

    ethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,571

    Sounds good, let us know how it goes!

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el