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Hot Water Boiler Rattling at Start of Heating Season

Harder
Harder Member Posts: 4
in Gas Heating

I have a 6 year old Dunkirk Series II model # DXL-125 hot water boiler that has been making a loud rattling noise and vibrating the pipes when it runs for the first few times each heating season for the last three years now. The whole boiler system was replaced, including the expansion tank, and they added a device which removes air from the incoming water supply so I don't have to bleed all of the radiators at the start of every heating season. I had the installing HVAC company out twice, the first time they said they had to see the problem happening to work on it, and of course it had already happened a few times already, and didn’t do it when I turned up the thermostat. They said don’t worry about it wait to see if something breaks. Is this a safety issue that I need to get fixed, or just an annoying glitch with the system starting each season?

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,773

    How about posting some pics of the boiler and its near piping?

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • Harder
    Harder Member Posts: 4

    20251015_151706.jpg 20251015_151743.jpg 20251015_151633.jpg 20251015_151931.jpg 20251015_151900.jpg 20251015_151805.jpg
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,081

    The vent damper makes a squeaky door hinge sound when rotating. But you must be used to that. Its a simple boiler. Quiet circulator. Expansion?

  • Harder
    Harder Member Posts: 4

    I don't think it's a vent damper. The rattling is most pronounced at the regulator, and the entire gas pipe and regulator are vibrating loudly. See attached video.

    Boiler.zip
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048

    WoW that is impressive !!! Sounds loudest at the gas valve. Kind of wonder what the burner flames look like when that is going on. While it is happening I'd probably disconnect the wiring connector at the gas valve to see if it instantly goes away.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    HVACNUT
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048

    Also while it is happening you could turn the gas valve to Off and see if it instantly goes a way.

    image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048
    edited October 16

    Here you go, looks like others had the same issue. As long as the 24 Volts AC is good at the gas valve, I'm starting to be convinced it is a bad gas valve.

    New Yorker boiler making buzzing noise.. New Yorker boiler gas valve replacement...

    https://youtu.be/2BAhBduc5Vg

    Utica boiler with noisy gas valve

    https://youtu.be/4Rv0gdvZgnc

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    HVACNUT
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,081

    I didn't need to play the video. I heard it from my house. Call the installer back and play them the video. If it is the gas valve, I'd think the part would be covered under warranty. You might have to pay labor.

  • Harder
    Harder Member Posts: 4

    That's what's so frustrating. I played the video for one of their techs the second time they were here, and that's when he said it might be the solenoid in the regulator rattling, but he wasn't sure and said wait until something breaks. At this point I'm ready to use a different company just to get it resolved.

    HVACNUT
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,582

    You need a more senior tech.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048

    " he wasn't sure and said wait until something breaks " well in a way it is broke since it should not do that, ever. It may eventually get worse, vibrate more often or it may not.

    At least he seemed honest with you " he wasn't sure "

    Techs can get beat up either way, do nothing and not fix the issue, change the wrong part and charge the customer for it. The customer is still upset either way.

    A more senior tech may have just changed the gas valve as the highest probable cause and that may have repaired it, at least for a while. It appears to me that style gas valve has that common issue, hopefully with the newer one that issue has been resolved.

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

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