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Short cycling boiler. I'm stumped.

13

Comments

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Ok sounds good. I'm gonna try filling the boiler again once my putty dries. In a few hours. I can't wait to get to the purge stage.

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503
    edited December 24

    If you are referring to pipe joint compound, you have no requirement to wait. Now "putty" on the other hand………………..🤐

    All you need to do is to turn on the water and wait until the gauge stops moving (should be 15 psi). You do not need to make any further adjustments to the valve.

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Awesome. I just copied, thanks! That toggle switch though, just stays loose. Does it change once the pressure rises in the boiler? When I raise it verticaly it doesn't touch that rod inside.

  • jesmed1
    jesmed1 Member Posts: 764
    edited December 24

    Your fast fill pin may be missing. Or did you forget to put it back after you adjusted the pressure with a screwdriver as @EdTheHeaterMan explained?

  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,460

    If the pin is missing for whatever reason you can take it out of the old fill valve and install it in the new one if you have to.

    ColdMainer
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Nope. Honest to goodness the pin is there. I actually opened other boxes and checked them before i bought it. They are all loose like that. I thought maybe it needed pressure before you could get it to grab.

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    I haven't really gotten that far. I'm waiting for the putty to cure where the LWCO probe was leaking. I probably won't be able to do anything until tomorrow. What a Christmas that will be for all of us to take a shower and warm up. Lol.

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    I'll look them over again and make sure I'm not losing my mind.

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

     I thought maybe it needed pressure before you could get it to grab.

    You might be exactly right.

    At the moment, the valve is wide open because it senses no pressure (the water is off). So, the toggle switch cannot do anything. Once the pressure comes up, the pin will come up…………and, then you can force it down with the toggle switch to purge.

    ColdMainer
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Yup, the tab/handle just going flippy floppy.

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    I like the way you think. This whole community. I've noticed technicians are like detectives solving a puzzle. It's almost like doing a crossword puzzle. Enjoyable.

    bburd
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 1,768

    With troubleshooting I think of it as a treasure hunt with clues, if you give up, you don't get the treasure someone else will. I want the treasure.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    ColdMainerLRCCBJSuperTech
  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    We like it when a homeowner is somewhat handy, determined, and tenacious and doesn't give up. We will stay with them until they are successful!!

    delcrossvColdMainerEdTheHeaterManSuperTech
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,805

    If you used pipe dope, it doesn't dry like that. An epoxy putty might seal it up for a while, but you'd have to clean it pretty good to get it to adhere enough to hold back water.

    ColdMainer
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,541

    Have you been able to get water pressure in your boiler yet? If the LWCO probe is a problem, you can always TEMPORARILY plug the opening with a 3/4" plug and bypass the LWCO with a jumper, just to get heat until you can get a new Probe that does not leak. This is not an endorsement of making a permanent repair that eliminates the LWCO. It us just until you can get the parts you need. Many heating boilers have operated for decades without LWCOs and there are still many out there that run just fine without a LWCO. I just think in an emergency the LWCO is able to be bypassed for a short time as long as someone is closely monitoring the water pressure on the boiler.

    Get the LWCO back on line ASAP after you get the part needed.

    Edward Young Retired

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

    LRCCBJColdMainer
  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    The silence is deafaning…………………….

    ColdMainerEdTheHeaterMan
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Hey guys Merry Christmas. I've got everything squared away w all the kids and I think this JB weld has set long enough. Says it needs 15 - 24 hours to fully cure. If that doesn't work, I'll plug the darn thing like Ed says. Alright, I'm ready to rock.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,541
    edited December 25

    I think the kids got gloves, scarfs and thick socks for Christmas, Santa must have come down the boiler's chimney since the fireplace was burning all night.

    "So his clothes were all covered with ashes and soot." as he popped out the barometric damper!!!

    Edward Young Retired

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

    LRCCBJSuperTech
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Hahaha. I like that. This will be my Christmas gift right here. I'm just making sure I don't have to open any air vents or anything b4 I open up the feed. From what I remember LRCCBJ saying it should do it's thing until the PRV stops on its own at 15 PSI. I'll just be sure it stops where it's supposed to.

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    I'm curious if I should turn this ball valve on, too, along with the feed .

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    Have no worries. It will stop at 15 psi.

    But, then you'll need to purge it and you'll need more than 15 psi at that time.

    ColdMainer
  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    Open the feed first. After you finish all your purging, THEN open that valve.

    ColdMainer
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Copy that. Thank you. I'm watching this probe and praying. Lol. I've got the feed cracked right now

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    Just open the feed. It will feed quickly at first and slow dramatically once it gets to 10 psi.

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    10-4

    Opened her up like you said. No leak!!! Gage looks about right, to me.

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    Perfect.

    Are you setup to purge the two zones?

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Yes i am. Ive got a big hose and a short 6 foot one. Prob gonna use the 6 foot one. I've got 3 buckets. What do i do next, boss.

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503
    1. There are two yellow ball valves right above the circulators. Close both.
    2. Connect a hose to ONE of the blue globe valves that are above the circulators.
    3. Use a long hose…………not a bucket………..and run the hose outdoors.

    Now, we test the new PRV to see if the bypass works:

    That little tab is now pushed down to push the pin down inside the PRV. Watch the pressure gauge and get it to climb to 25 psi. Then stop.

    Report back.

  • PC7060
    PC7060 Member Posts: 1,476
    edited December 25

    What is this valve on pressure side of boiler supply Pressure regulator?

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    That's the backflow prevention…………..now required almost everywhere.

    PC7060
  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503
    edited December 25

    Nice.

    Now, you want to keep the pressure at 25 psi when you open the blue valve that has the hose attached..

    How you do this is that you push the little tab all the way down so the pin is as far down as possible AND AT THE SAME TIME……..you open and throttle the blue valve to MAINTAIN 25 psi on the gauge. Watch the gauge and if it climbs close to 30, open the blue valve MORE…………if it drops close to 20……….close the the blue valve slightly…………..it's a balancing act to maintain approx. 25 psi during this process.

    It would be beneficial…………to have a second person looking at the discharge water coming out of the hose. You are DONE when the discharge water shows NO SIGNS OF ANY AIR. This takes between 5 and 10 minutes, typically, to do it properly.

    Once there is no air, simultaneously let go of the tab………..AND………..close the blue valve. If you close the blue valve BEFORE you release the tab………….you're going to get water all over the floor………………

    Depending how far apart the tab is from the blue valve…………you might need a second person on the tab.

    Then, repeat the entire process for the second zone.

  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Haha. Okay let's give this a try. I got my boy at the end of the hose

    LRCCBJ
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    One down! Moved over to the next one. My boys doing great over there. Maybe you could tell me why the zone on the left has 2 ball valves like that? And which zone goes to which floor?

    I've got my own thoughts but not sure about any of it. Lol

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    Ah………yes………..I missed that.

    Effectively, you have THREE zones.

    You need to close ONE of the yellow ball valves (above the blue globe valve) and purge THE OTHER. Then, you need to close the first one and open the second one to purge.

    What they did is split the zone with that circulator into, effectively, TWO ZONES.

    ColdMainerPC7060
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    Okay. So I've got it set like this. I'm gonna purge, and then

    open that one and close the other, and purge..

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503

    Correct.

    ColdMainer
  • ColdMainer
    ColdMainer Member Posts: 69

    alright. I've completed the purge. I left the pressure at 25 PSI.

  • LRCCBJ
    LRCCBJ Member Posts: 503
    edited December 25

    Open the globe valve slightly with the hose attached……………a bucket is fine…………and reduce the pressure to 15 psi. As you approach 15 psi, you'll probably hear the PRV open slightly. STOP THERE.

    PC7060