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Locating a possible leak?

Fmassarotto_9
Fmassarotto_9 Member Posts: 143
in Strictly Steam

I’m trying to identify where my boiler may be leaking from. The water level falls just below the sight glass, i can see the water looking down from the sight glass, but looking directly at it the sight glass is dry.

I’m having to fill the sight glass every 2-3 weeks which i can only assume is damaging he boiler. Since the water level falls to just below the sight glass, where should i begin investigating?

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,556

    That really depends on when it falls. If it falls to that level just sitting there, not running, then the leak really has to be in the boiler itself or just barely outside it, in the boiler side of the Hartford Loop. If the level falls and doesn't recover when the boiler is steaming, then it could be above the boiler water line or in the wet return piping (the most likely possibility) or somewhere out in the system — even a vent failing to close.

    So… does the water fall when the boiler isn't steaming, or when it is?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Fmassarotto_9
    Fmassarotto_9 Member Posts: 143
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1819550#Comment_1819550

    i dont have a solid answer, the only thing i can say is it happened throughout the summer, i shut the boiler off with the sight glass 2/3 full. and now it was just below the sight glass. it does recover as it steams, so yeah, i guess it happens just sitting there.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,556

    Then… it pretty well has to be in the boiler, unless you have no Hartford Loop.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 291

    It cannot be "in the boiler" unless you are a blind man and cannot observe this giant puddle all over the floor!

    You must have a leak in the wet return and without proper piping that includes a Hartford Loop, all the water from the boiler is draining into a pipe that is, presumably, below the floor!

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