Burnham steam boiler frequently purging water

knudsluk · February 6

Hello,

I have a Burnham Independence series steam boiler supplying 8 radiators in a ~2,000 sqft house that has been frequently purging water until it’s empty. Currently it needs to be refilled every few days. What causes this? Originally the boiler purged water nearly every heating cycle from the overflow pipe on the right rear corner of the boiler. It is now draining out of the backflow preventer on the water supply into the boiler, causing the boiler to need to be refilled every few days.

The company that installed it for the previous owners no longer works on steam systems. The boiler is about 10-15 years old. Thank you.

ethicalpaul · February 6

It will dump water out of the overflow pipe on the right of the boiler

Can you expand on this? There should be no liquid water (and very little water vapor) exiting a steam boiler under normal working conditions.

Where are you losing this water? The photos are very dark/difficult to see where the issue is. Can you try another single photo showing where you are losing water?

knudsluk · February 6

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1886548#Comment_1886548

Originally the boiler purged water nearly every heating cycle from the overflow pipe on the right rear corner of the boiler. It is now draining out of the backflow preventer on the water supply into the boiler, causing the boiler to need to be refilled every few days.

I apologize for the dark photos. I am not in the same state as the house with the boiler and had my property manager send photos. I’ve asked for clearer photos.

Jamie Hall · February 6

That's the pressure relief valve. For some reason, it is running at much too high a pressure — and very likely it is overfilled as well. This needs to be attended to as soon as possible!

You really need someone at least vaguely familiar with steam heating to look at it. Where is it located? It is possible that we know someone who could take a look.

knudsluk · February 6

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1886552#Comment_1886552

That makes sense. The house is located in Sheridan, WY. I’ve owned the house 6 years and this started a few years ago and has gotten worse. It has been difficult to find anyone that knows about steam there.

ethicalpaul · February 6

that pressure relief valve is the absolute last thing preventing the boiler from possibly exploding.

This indicates failure of the normal pressure control

That is not normal operation for that valve to release anything. The boiler should be shut down until a licensed contractor can check it out, in my opinion.

Waher · February 6

shut the boiler off! That’s the pressure relief valve. If it’s opening the boiler is over pressurizing and in danger of exploding while operating.

The pigtail under the pressuretrol is likely clogged if the pressuretrol itself hasn’t stopped working.

This is incredibly dangerous and you need this fixed immediately.

Jamie Hall · February 6

As the guys have said. Shut it off.

Sheridan, Wyoming is a bit out of the way. But — any reasonably competent master plumber should be able to figure it out, or can get on-site and ask questions of us.

EdTheHeaterMan · February 6

Steam boilers are not taught in plumbing school anymore because there are not too many around any more. But any Master Plumber should know about Pressure Relief Valves and that they are not normal operating controls. They are a last resort safety device that should never operate under normal conditions. If your plumber is not familiar with Steam Heat, he may not know what to do, but he should at least know someone that does know.

If you still can't get qualified people to work on it, perhaps a plumber can contact us here on HeatingHelp.com for help in solving your problem.

Karl Reynolds · February 6

If the water is leaking from the Watts 9D, that leads me to believe that it is a water boiler, not steam. It could be leaking due to foreign material on the seals, a faulty expansion tank, or as suggested a faulty relief valve.

ethicalpaul · February 6

The watts 9D BFP I believe is on the makeup water line. The boiler is piped like a poorly-piped steam boiler and it has a gauge glass. But the photos are not optimal and who knows…someone could have filled the entire system with water thinking it was a hot water boiler (which is one of the most poorly named appliances in existence since it doesn't boil water—or shouldn't).

But setting all that aside, it looks like it is supposed to be steam.

4GenPlumber · February 7

That boiler is grossly oversized for 8 rads, header is gonna pull the block apart with no swing joints and short risers to header, and is overfilled (probably extremely overfilled) if both the relief and backflow are blowing off.

dabrakeman · February 7

You may have a few companies in your area that suggest they service steam boilers like Zowada but I would suggest calling them asking if they could send you any photos of any steam boiler installs they have done. The photos would tell you/us a lot about their general knowledge level. That said a good master plumber that is willing to listen and learn even if has little steam experience could be better than someone claiming to know all who really knows nothing.

Burnham steam boiler frequently purging water

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