Plz help. I have a 1 pipe steam system and white smoke is coming out the chimney.

tumbz · November 4

I have a 1 pipe steam system and an auto water feeder. The auto water feeder turns on almost everyday and adds more water. There is no leak whatsoever around the boiler and it works very well and efficient with the vaporstat on low pressure.

I see white steam coming out the chimney, which would explain why the auto water feeder keeps turning on. I know you guys are going to say i have a crack above the waterline, but is there anything i can do about this?

pecmsg · November 4

Begin searching for a Good Steam Contractor before it gets any colder.

Where are you located?

Grallert · November 4

The first thing to do is determine for a fact that there is a leak and if so where. If there is a leak it's time to start saving up if you need to or replace if you can. In the mean time it's very possible that it can be sealed. I would attempt to seal it with Boiler Weld. This can very often give some breathing room.

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STEAM DOCTOR · November 4

Fill the boiler above the top. Will tell you in a second, if your boiler is leaking.

tumbz · November 4

so basically, just flood the boiler above waterline and see if it leaks? its been like this for years actually.

STEAM DOCTOR · November 4

Personally, I stay far away from and sealant, that gets poured into the boiler. The sealant can't differentiate between a boiler hole and a return pipe...... If that sealant gets into the returns, you might be looking at thousands extra in repair costs.

tumbz · November 4

steamdoctor, how do i know when the boiler is all the way to the top?

Grallert · November 4

With the boiler off for an hour or so, just add water until you feel a distinct temperature change at the supply.

tumbz · November 4

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870761#Comment_1870761

east meadow, NY

STEAM DOCTOR · November 4

Just fill to the top of the glass, plus another 20-30 seconds or so

STEAM DOCTOR · November 4

If you want to know for sure, you can hook up a hose to the drain valve and hold the other end of the hose above the boiler. Once water starts coming out of the other end of the hose, you know that the boiler is full.

STEAM DOCTOR · November 4

Obviously, open up the drain valve before you start filling the boiler

Jamie Hall · November 4

but doon't forget to restore the water level to where it belongs once yu have checked!

But… you have a leak.

There are a number of good steam people in your area — check the "Find a contractor" tab.

tumbz · November 4

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870778#Comment_1870778

its been like this for years. what happens if i leave it, other than using more wateR?

Steamhead · November 4

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870790#Comment_1870790

Eventually it will die, and you'll have no heat.

Go here:

https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/state/NY/

EBEBRATT-Ed · November 4

@tumbz

Good contractors:

@JohnNY @Mad Dog_2 @EzzyT you can PM them.

Pumpguy · November 4

Another consequence of just letting it go for now is, with all that oxygenated make up water, you stand a good chance of corroding your steam pipes too.

When that happens you have to replace the boiler AND the pipes.

ethicalpaul · November 4

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870829#Comment_1870829

Well except that steam won't have the oxygen in it from the fresh water.

I know you guys are going to say i have a crack above the waterline

No, I would say you have a hole rusted through the boiler—not a crack

patrykrebisz · November 6

i had similar situation. thankfully my fix was "easy" (in a hard kind of way). 1 month later and the boiler is going strong with minimal new water intake (1 gallon in 1 month).

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1866987

Boiler replacement is VERY expensive (look up price of new boiler and x3 of it for labor).

109A_5 · November 6

" its been like this for years. what happens if i leave it, other than using more wateR? "

With steam going up the chimney your fuel consumption will be excessive as compared to what normal should be.

Plz help. I have a 1 pipe steam system and white smoke is coming out the chimney.

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