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Boiler cracked?

jefftk3
jefftk3 Member Posts: 18
in Strictly Steam

While home today I noticed a few new things…

Three radiators dripping a little bit at the union nut connected the radiator to the valves. I noticed because one was hissing a little bit - have never observed that before and I have been watching things closely when I could recently.

One air vent, from first radiator on the main seemed to be venting non-stop, so I was suspecting perhaps it failed. I replaced it with a cheap spare I had (the tongue on spare vent-rite #1 would always turn when I tried to install… the hoffman 1a I took out seemed to be built better in that regard)

While still watching things, I decided to go look outside and saw white smoke coming from the chimney. Any chance that ever happens for reasons other than a cracked boiler?

Its a Burnham IN6, installed in 2014. I just moved in to the house a few months ago, so I can't speak to maintenance history, other than the pigtail was definitely clogged when we had it serviced pre-season.

VideoCapture_20250122-115713.jpg

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,064

    Are you losing water?

    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

  • Grallert
    Grallert Member Posts: 847

    Water vapor from the chimney flue is one way to tell if there is a fault in the casting but in extreme cold it's not the best way as the gas exhaust will condense more visibly. I know in my neck of the woods it looks like everyone's boiler is cracked.

    Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager, teacher, dog walker and designated driver

    ethicalpaulbburd
  • geemalar
    geemalar Member Posts: 23

    -1 degrees this morning in my area and the water vapor coming out of my chimney looked almost as much as that. I should think that if there was a crack you would see a lot more than that…….but I’m no expert.

  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,652
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1837079#Comment_1837079

    this.

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,230

    Fill the boiler, to header level. Look for water dripping

  • jefftk3
    jefftk3 Member Posts: 18

    Ok, I did just have a service tech over, we filled the boiler and could not find any other evidence of a leak. He said maybe there could be a tiny pinhole, or just due to the cold.

    It was cold out, around 10degF at the time.

  • jefftk3
    jefftk3 Member Posts: 18

    No, don't believe I'm losing water (unless of course its a real problem and it just happened to start). I have been watching it closely since the main vent failed.

    ethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,064

    No, don't believe I'm losing water (unless of course its a real problem and it just happened to start). I have been watching it closely since the main vent failed.

    Then I think you are just seeing condensation of the combustion gases in the cold. But fix up those leaks, your boiler especially you don't want fresh water coming in!

    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

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