Rollout switch tripping
Hello,
I have a 25+ yr old Columbia boiler that has a rollout switch issue. When I set the thermostat at night to 62 degrees, many times I'll have to re-set the switch in the morning because the boiler never kicked on overnight and the ambient temp is below 62. But once that is done, the boiler will keep the house at the daytime temp (around 66 to 67) that I set.
Does anyone have a suggestion for what is going on here? I'm collecting names of repair persons, too, if there are suggestions (NE Baltimore City area).
Thank you for your thoughts,
Saul
Comments
-
When it trips, does it fall down and go bum?
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
0 -
-
Seriously, a roll out switch is measuring a temperature that is higher than it should be at a location where it should not get that hot. Usually at a draft diverter or the burner vestibule. The conventional logic you might believe is that setting the thermostat at 62° causes the switch to trip. That is not the case. By setting the thermostat to 62° does not have anything to do with the overtemperature condition.
What may be happening is the boiler is off for a longer amount of time after you lower the temperature. The burner runs at least once per hour when set at a constant temperature. The burner will stay off for several hours overnight when you lower the thermostat. This allows the chimney to get cold. After several hours of down time that saved you on fuel, the burner lights and the cold chimney does not draft as well since it is colder than usual (if the burner was operated within the past hour). This cold chimney causes the flue gas to overflow and spill out the draft hood or burner vestibule into the boiler room causing the higher temperature to trip the roll out switch.
You need to inspect the chimney for problems with the draft. Partially blocked chimney base. Perhaps the chimney liner is failing. or you could have some carbon build up inside the boiler itself. You need to look at the cause of the spilling flue gas and correct that.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
0 -
What is happening is that when you lower the temp at night the boiler shuts down and the chimney gets cold so you have less draft. When it fires up short on draft you get roll out.
During the day with the temp higher the chimney stays warm.
You may have another issue causing the roll out but that is making it worse.
In Baltimore you want "all steamed up" you can PM @Steamhead
0 -
@Saul , call us on 410-321-8116 and we'll set up an appointment.
All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting1 -
Categories
- All Categories
- 87.4K THE MAIN WALL
- 3.2K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 61 Biomass
- 429 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 120 Chimneys & Flues
- 2.1K Domestic Hot Water
- 5.8K Gas Heating
- 115 Geothermal
- 167 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3.7K Oil Heating
- 77 Pipe Deterioration
- 1K Plumbing
- 6.5K Radiant Heating
- 395 Solar
- 15.7K Strictly Steam
- 3.4K Thermostats and Controls
- 56 Water Quality
- 51 Industry Classes
- 50 Job Opportunities
- 18 Recall Announcements


