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Add drain to sight glass

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Don_175
Don_175 Member Posts: 173
in Strictly Steam

I have a Weil McLain SGO-5 boiler. I’d like to add a drain valve to the sight glass so I can maintain it. I looked underneath the sight glass, and there is a 1/4 “ fitting below. I can feel there is a recess in the nut on the bottom. Almost like it’s got a hole through it. I would think I could just add a valve with a fitting Do I remove this lowest piece and put in a ¼” shutoff valve? Thanks

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Comments

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,259
    edited November 15

    Yes, you probably can. There is at least one 'Silent Steam Team' YouTube video basically showing how they did it on an oil boiler, I'll see if i can find it.

    Not the one I was thinking of but it may help.

    Piping In The Hartford Loop & Wet Return, A Fitting Split & Leaked

    https://youtu.be/B1oivR64Jrk
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,673

    Clean the boiler water!
    that won’t happen with a S G Drain.

  • Don_175
    Don_175 Member Posts: 173
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1872498#Comment_1872498

    I skimmed several times but sight glass has all this rust etc clinging to the glass. I was going to remove it and clean it but would also like to have a drain there

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,146

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLzrpyxoSpQ

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eINgWVPf_8
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Don_175
    Don_175 Member Posts: 173
    edited November 15

    Thanks Steamhead. I didn’t realize that that little fitting under the Conbraco lower valve is a drain. I guess I can loosen that with a wrench to drain the sight glass?

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,146

    Better yet, get a drain valve like the one pictured, put it in, and use it whenever you need to. I think that one was made by Red-White.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Waher
    Waher Member Posts: 346

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Dahl-521-61-04-1-4-MIP-x-Male-Hose-Straight-Hose-and-Boiler-Drain-Valve-Lead-Free-Brass

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,981

    The little fitting with the hole through it is the existing drain plug, but it's annoying to open and close and is prone to rounding. It is a 1/8 npt fitting. It makes a tiny flow and isn't a good drain.

    It is within another fitting that is the drain itself and that is 1/4" npt. That's the one that the Silent Steam team (and a lot of others including me) removes and replaces with a 1/4" valve.

    I use a 45 degree 1/4" street fitting and then the valve.

    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

  • Don_175
    Don_175 Member Posts: 173
    edited November 17
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1872646#Comment_1872646

    Thanks. I’ve placed my order. It will be good to be able to drain and clean it. The water in the boiler comes out clean but sight glass is dirty/rusty. I checked the ph with a meter and it’s about 9.6.

    ethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,981

    that's a good pH level

    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

    Don_175
  • Don_175
    Don_175 Member Posts: 173
    edited November 18

    I put the street elbow and shutoff valve on the sight glass. It is a tight fit near the cast iron door to chamber. The door to the chamber cannot open with the shutoff in place. Is there a way this can be done so it’s a permanent installation? Even just the street elbow would like let the door swing open. Check out the photo below.

    Also, how do you typically clean the glass ? I drained some mucky rusty water with both valves open and burner off. Is that the correct way to do it? When I had both valves closed, nothing came out. I’ve also read about closing lower valve and opening upper while boiler is making steam to “steam clean” the glass, but I’m a little anxious about trying that.

    IMG_7091.jpeg
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,981

    You could hacksaw that hose fitting off the end of the valve, or you could try a 90 degree elbow instead to see if that would clear the door.

    You will probably find that with a few flushings the glass will clear up on its own, but if not, the glass is held in place with those two brass compression nuts. It can be removed and cleaned.

    But there's a non-zero chance of breaking the glass when you remove it, so you want to have a replacement on hand to guarantee that it won't break when you remove it 😉

    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

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,172

    Maybe a street 90 degree elbow will work.

  • Don_175
    Don_175 Member Posts: 173
    edited November 18

    I ended up removing the street 45 as that was impinging on the door too. I then cut off the barb. It just basically clears. I can get either a funnel or small pie tin under it to collect the water. By the way, the drain was clogged for a bit and then water started to drain after a couple seconds. Thanks for your help, all.

    IMG_7092.jpeg
    ethicalpaul
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,259
    edited November 19

    I would have thought with a street 90, not a 45, then maybe a short nipple to get it over to the left more then a valve it could be a permanent install. Also I believe with a garden hose thread connected to the valve (or a Red White valve 241DV, 1/4" or Caleffi 538202FD) and the bottom valve closed and the top valve open the sight glass could be flushed out.

    Also they do make, what they call " EXTRA HEAVY 3.9 MM WALL. VERY DIFFICULT TO BREAK! "sight glass.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/375995887941


    Corning Pyrex 7740 Tubing Gauge Sight Glass
    (PYREX EXTRA HEAVY WALL TUBING 16MM OD SIGHT GLASS. PYREX SIGHT GLASS - 16MM OD. Wall - 3.9mm (Heavy wall is only 2.4mm). EXTRA HEAVY 3.9 MM WALL. VERY DIFFICULT TO BREAK!

    I also like the;

    TEF-LON GAGE GAUGE BOILER SIGHT-GLASS PTFE GASKET WASHERS SET - WILL NEVER LEAK https://www.ebay.com/itm/370994428128

    How to Change a Boiler Sight Glass - Boiling Point

    https://youtu.be/yu2q1ucwncY
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System

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