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Steam boiler

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Gomichigan7383
Gomichigan7383 Member Posts: 3

steam boiler keeps running 10-12 minutes then shuts off for a minute or 2 then comes on. Pressuretrol and pigtail are new. All radiators are hot. Its going off on pressure what do you think is the problem i appreciate your feedback

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,884

    Boiler is slightly oversized and cycling on pressure, unless the LWCO is a Cyclegard, in which case it may be the Cyclegard which also cuts out with about that timing to get a really good read on water leve.

    Sounds normal, either way.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    bburd
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,721
    edited January 2

    Oil or gas boiler? What pressure is it tripping off at? Is your venting adequate?

  • Gomichigan7383
    Gomichigan7383 Member Posts: 3

    Gas boiler; it has a safeguard LWCO that goes off every 20mins for a self check but in-between that the pressuretrol goes off at 5psi then a minute later boiler comes back on

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,721

    Has it always operated like this? What has changed?

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,538

    5psi seems excessive, what is the pressuretrol set at ? Are any radiators closed off ?

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,884

    5 psig is WAY too high. Picture, please, of the pressure control device. Also, has the pigtail to it been cleaned?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,538

    Kind of wonder if the gauge is accurate. Since "Pressuretrol and pigtail are new". Is the tapping into the boiler blocked ?

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • Gomichigan7383
    Gomichigan7383 Member Posts: 3

    Pressuretrol is set at 2;2 pigtail and Pressuretrol are both new gauge is tapped into the top of the boiler all radiators are open and hot

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,884

    If the pressuretrol is set to cut out at 2 but the pressure still goes up to 5, something is quite wrong. The pressuretrol might be out of calibration — most of them are — but that far out would be odd. One has to wonder… is it properly wired in?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,538

    If you have a PA404 Pressuretrol it should be set like this picture, however you may have other issues if the pressure is actually going up to 5psig.

    image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    Gomichigan7383