Near boiler piping
Comments
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So I did a little test with the condensate return line back to the boiler. There is a union right before it goes vertical at the boiler. I opened the union and started the boiler. It had been off for more than an hour. When I started the boiler up with the condensate return pipe open, it took 25 minutes to see any condensate come out of the pipe. I don't think that is typical, but then again I can't say it is.
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No, that's not typical at all.
Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.0 -
Starting to think the condensate return line is clogged. When the boiler shuts off, the level comes back slowly.
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I admit I’m thoroughly confused now. You had said before that the water dropped when the boiler started
When the boiler starts up, the level will get close to the low water cut off, and sometimes trip it.
Basically if the water level drops slowly and steadily during a long call for heat then recovers slowly afterward, it could be a clogged wet return.
If it drops suddenly it is probably surging.
I can’t tell where you opened the union but I would think it would be above the waterline and those pipes don’t clog so that confuses me too
NJ Steam Homeowner.
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See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
The union I pulled on the condensate return is right at the boiler. It's at the lowest point horizontally. There's roughly 35' of horizontal condensate return piping, and the last 5' is vertical where it goes back into the Hartford loop. That last 5' is where I pulled the union. 25 minutes after starting the boiler, is when I finally saw any condensate coming back.
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When you opened it, didn't water come out of the return?
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/3sZW1el0 -
No. The union is about 6' up on the vertical pipe. 25 minutes after the boiler started, is when I finally saw water come out of the pipe.
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The water level wouldn't drop out right away. It would take some time, but eventually would trigger the low water cutoff, or continuously trigger the light to come on. Only when the boiler would shut off, the water level in the sight glass would come back after 30-45 minutes or so.
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We are not communicating well so I'll leave others to try. I could swear you said the union was at the lowest horizontal point
The union I pulled on the condensate return is right at the boiler. It's at the lowest point horizontally.
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/3sZW1el0 -
It is. Which is about 6' in the air.
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I think you should post pictures along with some of the comments you make. The lowest horizontal return pipe is the one I marked in red in this picture, so without pictures of what you are talking about, that is the pipe we are envisioning when you say "lowest point horizontally.".
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Number 1 is the condensate return. The union at the top of the vertical is where I busted it open and no condensate came back to the boiler for 25 minutes after call for heat.
Number 2 is the steam main return.
These 2 vertical drops are the only vertical drops on the condensate return piping and main steam piping that goes back to the boiler. Obviously other than going to and from the radiators
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