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Lwco water supply shut off

guzzinerd
guzzinerd Member Posts: 329
edited February 11 in Strictly Steam

Forum search feature isn't working for me, sorry for the new post.

Pretty sure my LWCO is leaking a bit as I find the glass getting slightly fuller each week. Today it was past the top of the glass for the first time. (I have been testing it weekly and it does shut off the boiler)

I'll probably replace it this spring but would like to shut off the water to it in the meantime. Is the circled valve the correct shut off? There are 3 in that loop and want to make sure.

Thanks

Alex

20250211_150818.jpg

P.s. was installed at least 10 yrs ago

Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

Comments

  • Long Beach Ed
    Long Beach Ed Member Posts: 1,638
    edited February 11

    You'll note there are unions on both sides of the valve. Those are there so you can determine if the low water cut off feed valve or either blue handled valves are leaking.

    Don't replace any valve unless you have determined it is leaking by opening the union. Throwing parts at a problem without proper diagnosis can be very costly. These rebuild kits are quite pricey.

    There are several reasons that boiler may be overfilling, and a leaking low water cutoff feed valve is only one of these.

    Also be aware that the replaceable "blow down valve" (with the yellow handle) is not the feed valve, and its failure would never cause the boiler to overfill, unless it was spilling water on the floor. This is the valve that lets you regularly drain sediment out of the float chamber to service it properly.

    In answer to your question, either blue handled valve will stop the low water cutoff from feeding. The one closest to the domestic water supply will keep water from entering the valve, the one feeding into the boiler controls water leaving the valve and entering the boiler.

    guzzinerd
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,233
    edited February 11

    To disable the water feed shut the valve off on the inlet side of the feeder (look at the arrow on the feeder body)

    Do not shut both valves or the outlet valve while running the boiler/ If you do you can trap water in the feeder valve and the low water cutoff may not be reliable

    The valve you circled may be the outlet valve. Can't tell by pictures.

    guzzinerd
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,122

    Yes that valve shuts off the feeder , the other valve in parallel is the manual feed .. You may want to make sure that valve is not bypassing .. The union next to it can be used to test..

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    Long Beach Edguzzinerd
  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 329
    edited February 11

    Thanks,

    Ok, yes, if it's leaking I'll rebuild it. They are darn pricey

    In the meantime can I shut off both valves to see if it stops overfilling? Where else could the water come from?

    Thanks

    Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,122

    Yes I know, I just replaced a #47……

    Yes, you would want to shut both valves first ….

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 329
    edited February 11

    This is how the, 3, valves normally are set and arrow direction on the lwco

    20250211_155151.jpg

    I'm assuming the one that's normally off could be leaking, it's what I use to overfill the thing off season. I'll start by repacking this one.

    Is it safe to leave the valves like this to see it stops overfilling ?

    20250211_155151.jpg

    Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,122

    I would recommend replacing that old galvanized water line , Cheaper then replacing feeders …

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    mattmia2Intplm.
  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 329
    edited February 11
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1842077#Comment_1842077

    Sounds good. With black pipe or copper?....

    Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,122

    Copper

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    guzzinerd
  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 329
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1842083#Comment_1842083

    ok. thanks again

    Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,779

    There is so little flow in that galvanized pipe that I bet it looks brand new inside. The rest of the house might be a different story.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,779

    The valve on the left is the supply to the automatic solenoid valve. The valve on the right is the manual bypass.

    image.png

    This is an isolation valve to remove the solenoid valve without draining the boiler:

    image.png
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,233

    As I said above. If your running the boiler shut the bypass valve and the valve on the INLET to the feeder.

    Do not shut the feeder outlet valve . It is not an electric solenoid valve it is a float operated valve. If you shut the outlet valve from the feeder the float may not be reliable.

    The reason for this it that with the outlet valve shut the water will be trapped between the feeder valve and the closed outlet valve. This may cause the float not to operate properly

    guzzinerdmattmia2
  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 329
    edited February 12
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1842094#Comment_1842094

    Gotcha. I used a wrench to crank down more on the bypass valve and left the other 2 open. If it continues to fill I'll shut the inlet as well, keeping the outlet open until it's replaced this spring

    Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,779

    there isn't a tankless coil or indirect on this boiler?

  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 329
    edited February 12

    We have a separate 100gallon gas water heater

    20241109_152840.jpg

    Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

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