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One pipe steam boiler pressure too high

sobriquet
sobriquet Member Posts: 48
edited February 22 in Strictly Steam

Hello, I’m having an issue this year I wanted some opinions on. Single pipe residential steam. I recently installed a low pressure gauge (0-3psi). During that installation, I removed and cleaned the pigtail, and verified the pressuretrol settings - 0.5 cut-in with differential wheel at 1. This is how it has been set for 10+ years. I’m now having an issue with radiator vents leaking like crazy. Low pressure gauge is indicating the boiler is shutting off a little above 3psi. I never had a low pressure gauge before, so I can’t attest to the accuracy of the pressuretrol in years past, but I’ve never had vents leaking like this. I could even hear spitting/hissing at one of my main vents. Yes, I have adequate main venting. 5 Gorton number 2s in total.
One other thing that may be contributing to abnormal conditions this year. Two radiators are currently removed and supply pipes plugged due to minor house renovation work. I understand this may cause an oversized boiler condition, but I assume my pressures should still not exceed my pressuretrol settings.
Does all this indicate a defective pressuretrol?

Did I cause this problem after removing/installing the pigtail and pressuretrol?


If my pressure controller is indeed the culprit, should I spring for a vapor stat?

Any thoughts or insights would be helpful,

Thank you


EDIT: one more thing, this high pressure seems to only occur after a setback, when attempting to raise home temp from about 65 to 70 in the mornings. When the system is simply maintaining temperature, my low pressure gauge indicates no pressure whatsoever.

Comments

  • Long Beach Ed
    Long Beach Ed Member Posts: 1,620
    edited February 22

    It has been a cold winter for many of us. When you recover from a setback, only then are the radiators completely filled with steam and the vents will close, or they are supposed to close. So any vent that doesn't close properly will exhibit problems as yours are.

    Either your vents are in poor condition or of poor quality, or your pressure is too high, your piping is incorrect producing poor quality steam or of too high velocity.

    Temperature setbacks often don't work well with steam systems, and often wind up costing you money.

    If you post some photos of the piping around your boiler I'm sure some folks here can offer suggestions.

  • sobriquet
    sobriquet Member Posts: 48
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1844319#Comment_1844319

    I will try to get some photos. Based on my very basic knowledge of steam, my near boiler piping appears to be far from perfect. Is it recommended to not set the thermostat down? Just maintain a steady temp day and night? Is it more cost effective?

  • Long Beach Ed
    Long Beach Ed Member Posts: 1,620
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1844320#Comment_1844320

    It depends… It very well may be a cost saving. It would depend on boiler and radiator sizing, heat loss and piping. Probably best to experiment.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 2,138

    Your pressuretrol may have never worked correctly, they seem to have a history of being dysfunctional. My lungs can trip mine when set to 1.5 PSI cut out. Also the switch should be verified that it actually opens the circuit when you hear the click.

    With the radiators removed it may have been just enough EDR reduction that when recovering from a setback the pressure rises enough to make a dysfunctional pressuretrol more obvious.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System

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