Too much water added to gas steam boiler - Help!

new2mesteam2013 · January 29

I manually added too much, water poured from vent overhead the boiler. I removed about 4 gallons but the glass gauge still topped over. Level tester not showing low level.
To test I ran the boiler at 65, the glass got filled with rusty water (was clear before) radiators hammered and hissed and 2 (same wall) of 8 stayed cold.
MOST DISTURBING the Internal Syphon gauge that NEVER moved before went over 30psi and remains around 15psi even after hours of not running the boiler. The boiler makes a very high firing sound and cuts-off for water level test and again fires loud. The water level still ok, not low indication. I turned it very low overnight but still when it fired the rusty water shows on the glass. This is making me afraid to run it even for a bit to keep warmish.

Will appreciate any advice or suggestions 3 pics.

ethicalpaul · January 29

if the glass is full, keep draining

But sometimes the glass valves can get clogged, but that’s rare. Sounds like yours are operational

You will get water hammer and worse if you run overfilled. Don’t do that

MOST DISTURBING the Internal Syphon gauge that NEVER moved before went over 30psi and remains around 15psi even after hours of not running the boiler.

this is common—those factory gauges fail within a month of installation

new2mesteam2013 · January 29

The water coming out of the boiler is very low volume.
Any ideas about the Internal Syphon pressure? Can it cause damage to the boiler?
Thanks for replying so fast.

new2mesteam2013 · January 29

The Plumbers have said that when I asked about it not moving. But this time it’s on a high roll.

retiredguy · January 29

I would not run the boiler until you know just how much water you have in it. Turn off the power and let the boiler cool down. Take the plug out of that Watts ball valve by the sight glass and drain the boiler from there. Let the water drain from that valve until it stops. Also, open the drain valve at the bottom of the boiler and let the water level fall further. It may take a while to drain the boiler and piping. I would clean the sight glass and both the upper and lower valves to make sure that they are not plugged. Then replace the sight glass with new rubber washers if you have any. Once the water level drops you can refill the boiler with clean water. By the way, that pressure gauge is probably junk and should be replaced. I would also remove the pressure control and clean out or replace the pigtail. You will be surprised at just how much a good pressure gauge costs. Overfilling the boiler could have put a lot of sediment into the piping and places where it should not be. If you are not sure that everything is back to normal call a service company and have them service the boiler.

Captain Who · January 29

I'd also drain from the return in case the Hartford Loop got clogged because other wise you could have water still in your first floor radiators. Still might if they are not draining correctly. Anyways, any junk you inadvertently dislodged in the piping and rads could end up in the return.

ethicalpaul · January 29

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1885096#Comment_1885096

Keep draining it until you can see it's at the right level. @retiredguy gave some good info about how you can clean the gauge glass fittings.

You are draining from the drain valve at the bottom of your picture, correct? It can be gunked up, you could try putting a wire or large zip tie up it to try to clear it, but don't burn yourself. I don't imagine you want to wait around long enough for the boiler to fully cool in this weather, but exercise caution.

Forget the internal syphon pressure. Whatever it is showing when the boiler isn't boiling doesn't matter, and you can't really hurt the boiler.

AdmiralYoda · January 29

Did I read that correctly? You drained some water but fired up the boiler while the site glass was still full?

Keep draining until it is at a normal level, then try again.

new2mesteam2013 · January 29

Retired guy I will let it cool down from what all of you say shouldn’t runnit with the rust in the glass. From what you hint the pigtail must be expensive snd have to get a professional do that, meantime I’ll try draining more.

Yes Ethicalpaul, from the bottom. Just drained more by now about 6 gallons, since it came on at 60, the glass water is rusty and came out as such. HOW MUCH WATER does this Peerless 63-64 hold? Seems bottomless. Did drain from Howardloop also.

The vent overhead keeps hissing low when fired, but the radiators donk bang or hiss any more, Inguess because they’re not getting too hot?

Yes AdmiralYoda I did let it run with the glass full and it is still full! I’m cold so let it go for a few minutes only.

I’m going to let it cool now.

mattmia2 · January 29

you shouldn't run it with the sight glass completely full. rust in the sight glass although not ideal is ok. if there are a lot of low returns in the system those could hold a lot of water so it may take draining quite a bit of water to get the level back down to the normal level in the sight glass. You may have even partially filled some of the lower radiators before you noticed water coming out of the main vents.

banging and hissing in this case if from water being up higher than it should be and getting thrown around the system by the steam. it likely will go away once you get the level down to the right level. it is possible that if you really flooded it it could move some sediment around and cause water to get trapped some where but the first step is to get it to the correct level.

AdmiralYoda · January 29

@new2mesteam2013 You waaaaaaaaaaay over filled your boiler. You probably filled up the main pipes and some of your radiators too! That is why it is taking forever to drain.

Think about it. Imagine if your pipes were full of water…. when the water in the boiler starts boiling all that turbulent water and steam has to go somewhere! So it gets shot up through your pipes and into your radiators making water hammer (the banging).

The water level needs to be in the middle of the site glass….that is what it is for….. to show you where the water line is INSIDE the boiler. There needs to be some head space in the boiler for the steam to collect before it goes to the pipes.

Think of it like a pot of water. If you filled the water all the way up to the brim and put a cover on it…where would the water go when it started boiling? It would make a mess. That is why you fill the pot to somewhere in the middle where there is plenty of room for the turbulent boiling water and steam to collect underneath the lid.

And the water in the site glass is rusty because you just filled your entire system with water! So you are flushing all the rust and deposits inside your pipes back into your boiler! It would probably be best to 100% drain it and refill to the middle of the site glass.

new2mesteam2013 · January 29

Thank you all for your guidance I’ll try one more night but may need a Pro help me.

ethicalpaul · 12:02AM

You don't need a pro, you just need to keep draining water out until you see it in the gauge glass! Don't run your boiler until then! I feel like I'm repeating myself but you aren't hearing us!

Jamie Hall · 1:23AM

I'll repeat something, too — it may be a LOT of water!

4GenPlumber · 2:20AM

I think maybe you should try to drain it.

4GenPlumber · 2:34AM

If the gauge just so happens to not be lying, you have 35ish feet of water on top of the boiler. Thats a lot of water.

JaymeHart · 2:55AM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1885204#Comment_1885204

35 Feet of water!?!

new2mesteam2013 · 3:51AM

I did as you all adviced. I was anxious so kept repeating before I read some of your good guidance.
It’s going to be 5 overnight! Shut the power, let it cool for a few hours and kept draining.
Thank you all for helping me get it done! I’ll get it serviced when the weather is better.
Stay warm and safe this winter!

Too much water added to gas steam boiler - Help!

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