Boiler gaining water, suspect manual feed valve.

orew · January 27

We've had an issue with our boiler for a while that the water level slowly increases. Some weeks it's very consistent, other times it won't for a little while and then we'll see a big increase. That happened today: I noticed the boiler was running very long and went down to find that the water was WAY too high. We usually just check it every few days and drain it.

I looked it over thoroughly and it feels like the only thing to cause this would be the feed valve. BTW we only have a manual feed ball valve, no automatic feed. No domestic hot water, just single pipe steam.

Does this make sense? Seems weird that a ball valve would leak like this.

Anyway, I want to replace it myself. I've done just enough plumbing and soldering to feel fairly confident about this, and we have other backup heat sources.

Is there anything I need to know, or anything special about the valve?

There is a shutoff at my hot water heater so I shouldn't have to shut off water to the whole house.

This valve looks pretty close:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-2-in-SWT-x-1-2-in-SWT-Full-Port-Lead-Free-Brass-Ball-Valve-116-4-12-EB/205816127

My valve:

ethicalpaul · January 27

If that's the only route for water to enter your boiler that must be it.

If you want to make it easy on yourself get a sharkbite valve and be done in the time it takes you to cut through the pipe twice (leave the existing valve there)

Boiler gaining water, suspect manual feed valve.

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