High water cutoff…
Hi All, trying to figure out if condensation is filling up boiler or auto flow issue. Boiler is fairly new only four years in service including the auto water fill/cutoff. This unit serves a six family unit and does run periodically but could it fill up two gallons of water overnight due to condensation? High water cutoff , drained the water and a few hours later the sigh glass is about 2/3 full. The solenoid is functioning but I’m woundering if there is an adjustment needed .
any suggestions greatly appreciated…
Comments
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The only place condensation can come from in a steam system is the water evaporated from the boiler to make steam.
So condensation is not a possibility. That leaves the autofeeder… and I see that you have no way to shut it off and use manual feed. However, you do have a shutoff valve for the overall water feed to the boiler — so I would suggest that you first verify, positively, that the low water cutoff on the boiler is working, and then close that shutoff valve and see what the water level does.
Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England0 -
Agree with @Jamie Hall
Could be the ball valve leaking by, but it is more likely the auto feeder leaking by.
I am assuming you do not have an indirect water heater, or a tankless water heater hooked to the boiler.
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Hello yaca,
There is no high water cut off functionality, well except for the Pressuretroll. If the system overfills significantly it should trip the Pressuretroll, but that will just shut down the burner, not the water feed.
Is the sight glass full in this picture full or empty ? If full, why is the LWCO indicating the water is low (Red LED is on) ? Maybe the probe needs cleaning.
The system look off in this picture.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
thank you, that LOWC was only four years old , yes sight glass in first pic full then it was drained to the level of the probe ( second pic of sight glass about 2/3 filled) system ran better overnight but did limit water intake with ball valve flow
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I made a high water cut off some years ago and no one seemed to care 🤣
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Interesting, did you patent it ? The LWCO could be a WCO or H&LWCO with two probes for Low and High in the appropriate tappings.
I'm guessing no one cared since on a properly working system it is usually not needed.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
@yaca said: "thank you, that LOWC was only four years old"
So the LWCO is about 4 years old and you have not done the annual maintenance that includes cleaning off the probe. Is that about right?
You may want to follow the instructions on LWCO probe maintenance. Here is Paul's video
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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@109A_5 , I created this arrangement for customers who are snow birds to protect them from an automatic feeder failure,
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I'm not sure how that system could only be 4 years old. That is an old looking LWCO and autofeed and the fittings on the boiler are all corroded and weird.
The water looks pretty gross.
What is this thing doing here? Isn't this a hot water system autofeed?
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/3sZW1el0 -
it’s a pressure reducing valve, used commonly on hot water systems. Serves no purpose here, just the backflow above it does.
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Extra parts may help with the the stuff the installer is unaware of, may appease an inspector. I think there was a post with an expansion tank on a Steam system.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
Cool, necessity is the Mother of invention.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
So adding random unrelated parts is an inspection strategy now? What is the markup on placebo parts? 😂
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/3sZW1el0 -
The inspector may have wanted the backflow valve, the pressure reducing valve was a bonus, it goes with some kind of boiler. Many inspectors I have dealt with or otherwise observed their work are lame IMO. Don't argue, just make them happy and they go away, you know.
BTW I also have a tough time with " Boiler is fairly new only four years in service including the auto water fill/cutoff. "
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System1 -
yeah I had to put on a BFP and remove my water trap control tree for my inspector
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/3sZW1el0 -
Thanks for the suggestions and probe maintace video, property was purchased four years ago, sold with a fairly new system, inspector said the condensate return water was slow on the return and when the system would make up water the condensate from return would overfill, therefore had to change the two vents on risers , so far it’s been functioning properly. Yeah most of those fittings, water fill , check valve was prior to sale of unit.
thank you appreciate the help all!0
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