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Steam boiler and indirect hot water tank in the summer

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Bob_57-2
Bob_57-2
in THE MAIN WALL

I have a steam boiler and an indirect water tank, both installed about 15 years ago. It's my recollection that in the summer months when the boiler fired to heat hot water, the steam pipes close to the boiler remained cold and I would never hear air coming out of a radiator vent on the first floor.

This summer my gas bills have been almost twice as high as previous summers. The steam pipes within a foot or two of the boiler are warm (not hot) and at least on one occasion I heard air coming from a radiator vent.

My plumber checked out the system today and said that everything looked fine and there was nothing wrong with the warm pipes and an occasional sound of air from a vent.

Is this right? Is there something wrong with my aquastat?

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul

    Replace your indirect with a standalone water heater and shut off your boiler in the summer. That's my advice although most people in this forum (who dare reply here at least) will tell you to absolutely keep your indirect.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed
    edited 3:14AM

    If the indirect is 15 years old there could be some sludge around the sensing well of the aqua stat in the indirect. You or your plumber would have to drain the indirect and take the well out and flush the tank.

    The other possibility is someone turned the aqua stat in the indirect up too high, but I would think you would notice very hot water if this was the case. Normal setting might be 120 ish.

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