Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Basic water/steam leak questions

AllSteamedUp
AllSteamedUp Member Posts: 3
edited February 15 in Strictly Steam

Hello, I have a single pipe steam radiator system. It's losing water and I want to approach this correctly.

In 2001, we installed new radiator air vents, repacked the supply valves, removed asbestos, replaced the boiler with a properly sized Burnham, and put fiber insulation on the pipes.

For the past 24 years we've drained the sediment once a week, about a pint or two of water. The system needs water every 5 weeks. I cannot remember if we've needed to add water more often in the past few years. 3 times I've forgotten and the low water cutoff activates, but that's over 24 years.

One time, I think 10 years ago, I forgot to shut off the water. The system filled up to at least the first floor radiators before I caught it. There wasn't a single leak. I drained the system to the correct water level and felt a bit stupid, but the system just kept working.

A couple months ago, the low water cutoff started kicking in every 3 days. Obviously I've got a leak.

  1. I've checked the insulated pipes for evidence of water, and found none.
  2. I've checked the chimney output for steam; looks OK.
  3. Checked under the boiler; it's bone dry.
  4. I haven't yet found an obviously leaky or sputtering valve or vent, but I haven't checked them all yet. My spouse says that the main vent near the boiler has been louder this season; she's often down there working.
  5. My next steps:
    1. Repack all of the radiator supply valves.
    2. Check for water dripping from the radiators.
    3. Check for bad radiator air vents, and the main air vent near the boiler.

24 years ago, step 5 fixed all of our water loss problems.

My questions are:

  1. How can I check if my air vents are bad? Should I just replace all of them including the main vent, because they're 24 years old?
  2. Is there anything else I can do on my own?
  3. I have found a couple of local contractors from this site. What might they do to look for a leak? I don't want to try anything fancy by myself; I just want to make sure I know what to expect, what to ask, and what to beware of.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,226
    edited February 15

    For the past 24 years we've drained the sediment once a week, about a pint or two of water.week, about a pint or two of water.

    Don’t do that. That causes corrosion. Your boiler probably has a hole rotted through it and steam is going up the chimney.

    If you want to rule that out, overfill the boiler to the header and see if water starts dripping out

    24 years is a good run though, especially for a Burnham

    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

    AllSteamedUpmattmia2
  • AllSteamedUp
    AllSteamedUp Member Posts: 3

    I'll try to overfill and see if it drips; thanks. I am also concerned the age of the boiler.

    I have gotten conflicting advice on sediment over the years. As a child I was trained to not let sediment build up, but also to put in as little fresh water as possible. Some experts have also told me not to drain sediment too often. Still, as you say, 24 years.

    Thanks for your advice.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,563

    Go over all your piping with an eagle eye — especially any return piping carrying cndensate (either we or dry). It is absolutely astonishing how much water a single leaking joint can lose… remember the rule of thumb: one single drip, every 10 seconds, is a gallon per day…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    AllSteamedUp
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,667

    Where are your returns? Is there a return from the end of the mains below the water line, possibly below the basement floor? does the main loop back to the boiler then drop down to the return at the boiler? does the main slope toward the boiler and have a drip before the boiler for the return?

    before you go crazy looking for a leak in the system flood the boiler as @ethicalpaul suggested to make sure it isn't leaking above the water line.

  • AllSteamedUp
    AllSteamedUp Member Posts: 3

    I don't think I know enough to answer these questions. I know that there are no returns at or below the floor. I think that the main loop drops down to the return at the boiler.

    And I agree; I need to flood the boiler above the water line. If there is a problem there I hope it'll be obvious; the floor around and under the boiler is dry and dusty, so I presume it'd be obvious if it starts dripping water.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,163

    @AllSteamedUp

    Just don't overfill the boiler when it is real hot. Let it cool a bit and add the water slowly.

    The supply pipe coming out of the boiler will cool when the water is high enough.

    pecmsgAllSteamedUp

Categories