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Pressure gauge mystery

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333_Ho_3422
333_Ho_3422 Member Posts: 3
in THE MAIN WALL

The boiler looks almost new. Its a williamson boiler 100K BTU Steam gas fired.

Noticed that pressure guage is almost horizontal and the pressure cut off is set at 8 PSI. Wonder why this is horizontal, is it ok to have it like this ( see picture). I can certainly adjust the cutoff to 2 PSI by adjusting the cutoff valve. Also the radiator vents are hissing loudly and am told the steam is kind of pushing hard to get in the radiator. Usually with steam systems there shall be little to no hiss on the vents, isnt it.

Does williamson ship boiler like this and did the installer forgot to change it to vertical, does the position have any affect given the pg tail ( looop) is there.

Please advise.

TIA.

image.png

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,748
    edited January 20

    That is not the factory installed position. I bet the installer had no clue. Can you take a few steps back and tank another picture so we can see the pipes that connect to the steam main. I bet you that they are all wrong.

    When it is operating, are there any problems with noise, or unbalanced heating of the building?

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • leonz
    leonz Member Posts: 1,791
    edited January 20

    I agree with you Ed, the installer had no clue as to what he was doing. The water in the sight glass is horrible.

    Another clue was the sloppy install of the BX cable from the damper to the pressuretrol.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,684
    edited January 20

    The pigtail to the pressuretrol pipe should be vertical like this. Water is trapped in the bottom half of the pigtail to protect the pressuretrol and gauge from the steam. The way yours is it won't trap water.

    image.png 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: 3,684
    image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    Corktown
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,881

    I would guess the installer had no clue. In my 53 years in the business I have never seen a pressure control mounted like that.

    But I don't think you can blame the installer for the wiring between the pressure control and the damper that is likely a factory whip.

    I too would like to see more of the piping. Looks like some copper on the return which may be ok

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,993

    And in the meantime see if you can turn the pigtail and pressure control so that it is correctly oriented — and dial the cutout pressure down to 1 psig.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • tcassano87
    tcassano87 Member Posts: 112

    wow you said this was a New install?

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,145
    edited January 20

    I think something hit it and pushed it over……..

    Maybe it was in the way of whoever was wrapping that beautiful insulation around the pipe.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    GrallertBig Ed_4CLamb
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,544

    I have seen them shipped like that. Obviously, any self respecting professional, would orient things properly

    GrallertChrisJ
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,145
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1883139#Comment_1883139

    Yeah,

    But any professional should have also installed a useable skim port too.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    tcassano87
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 27,056

    maybe the BX whip for the vent damper was too short. Those are often factory connected to the vent damper?

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,544

    On those boilers, they come factory connected to the damper. There's a knockout in the jacket, and it gets field connected to the wiring harness inside the jacket. The BX is almost always too long. Typically, use a pipe strap or two to keep in place. Don't want to touching any of the hot pipes or dangling....

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,409

    Its a package boiler :)

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • 333_Ho_3422
    333_Ho_3422 Member Posts: 3

    If i just turn the control counter clockwise to orient it correctly would it be fine.

  • 333_Ho_3422
    333_Ho_3422 Member Posts: 3

    How much should the gauge be set at.. I know there is a screw at the top to adjust the cut out pressure, what should that pressure be.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,993
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1883389#Comment_1883389

    The gauge? Just measures. The pressuretrol — the blue-grey box — does have a screw at the top, and it should be turned to set the index a bit below 2.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,684
    image.png

    The screw at the top should be adjusted so the indicator on the front should be just at the bottom of the scale, about 0.5 PSI. Take the cover off and the white knob inside should be set to 1, the number 1 faces the front.

    If the pressuretrol does not work reliably at those settings raise the 0.5 maybe a 1/2 turn at a time and re-test.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    ethicalpaul
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,684

    Turning the pigtail back 90 degrees may work fine. However that is usually not best practice with tapered pipe threads. Watch for leaks over time.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,993

    My bad above. @109A_5 above is correct — the index should be set down to just above the 0.5 mark.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    ethicalpaul
  • JaymeHart
    JaymeHart Member Posts: 60
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1883398#Comment_1883398

    assuming there is water left in the pigtail. it is prob pretty empty in thst current position

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,362

    Water will fill the pigtail after it is oriented correctly, from the condensation of steam within 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

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