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Steam Heat still making banging noises

32K views 101 replies 10 participants last post by  redline 
#1 ·
Hi to all, and hope Mdshunk helps out as well. Well this steam heat has been a nigtmare, all piping on back of boiler has be done to specs from Burhman. Supply line 2inc, pitches away from boiler and down towards return line. All radiators and heat elements are pitch to return line, this is a one pipe system. If I drain the boiler completly out, she runs smoothly for ablout a day or two, then the banging and spitting water from the vents start. Can the boiler be bad?? Please guys help me out, I begun to hate steam heat, the heat is nice because its toasty warm, but the bangs are driving me nuts. Thanks to all. Happy New Year to all as well.
 
#3 ·
Hi helplesshandyman

You knew that I would be here, I thought you and Md had this worked out. It sounds like you are still ponding water somewhere in the system and the boiler fill system is doing its job. As far as mdshunk I would love to hear from him also. I have never seen such a sharp person give so much and put up with the stuff he has. I hope you can get him involved again. I think he would be proud of the member name I chose for myself.

Good luck
Rusty
 
#4 · (Edited)
Carrierman, I thought so too, she was running smoothly for two days after we repipe the back of the boiler. She has come back to hunt me. This has put a toll on me, it has slow down the construction in the house, but I need to get it to work. I have closed up all the walls, but cannot start installing wood floors until I get this straighten out. I do not want to ruin my new floors. This is my first home purchase, and its be a nightmare, I cannot afford to convert at this point. I hope Mdshunk gives me some ideas. I have noticed that the vent on the supply is not venting, so maybe the vent went bad with the water hammering. I am going to purchase another vent tomorrow and give it a shot. Thanks! Also forgot to mention, she never reached higher than 55 degrees. After repiping the back of the boiler, as per Mdshunk she reached 70 degrees and we had to shut her down because the house was so hot, new windows and new insulation throughout the house. I know that Mdshunk knows his stuff, I just hope he helps me out. Thanks!
 
#7 ·
I have a few sugestions forgive me for not knowing what you already did.Did you try a "known working vent". What is the operating pressure at?
Operating pressure is set to the lowest, I beleive its 0.5, the level is all the way down. I am going to change the vent on the supply line, but don't know if this will cause water hammering. Thanks for responding..
 
#8 ·
Previous owners stated boiler was working, the engineer checked it and found a gas leak on the gas control valve, so the gas was shut down by Fire Dept. The gas valve was repaired , and when we did the closing I never fired up the boiler since it was 85 degrees outside and we were getting ready for house demo, taught me a lesson tho! The boiler is not banging and runs quietly, its the radiators, once the water hammering starts, I hear it all over the house. Somehow the water is getting up to the radiators. If I drain the entire boiler out, she runs good for a day or two. Thanks for responding...
 
#14 ·
That's the one I am replacing, it was new when the new pipes were installed. To me it seems as its gone bad with the water hammering, because when the steam is going up, I stand near the vent and she is not venting, but I don't think this could be the problem, because this vent was installed new.
 
#17 ·
Hi helplesshandyman

In the earlier post you made, we had discussed changing pressure. You should be running @ 3 lb off and 1.5 to 2 lb for on pressure. This is probably what is causing the ponding water. Do some adjusting and I will bet you fix the rest of your problem. I still haven't seen mdshunk, I hope he's ok.

Good luck
Rusty
 
#19 · (Edited)
Steam Heat Banging ***Update***

Okay guys, I need all you guys input on this, Mdshunk, Carrierman, Trollmaster, Redline, and everyone else that can help. Well after a few months of heart aches and sleepless nights, I came to the conclusion of the problem. Boiler was flooding with water, no kidding!!!. Somehow, the boiler was asking for too much water in a days run. Came to the conclusion that the Low Water Cut Off is either bad or dirty. I don't know if this can be taken apart for repair, or should a new one be installed? I need feedback from you experts, and you guys know who you are. I ran the boiler yesterday, and when the firt radiator started banging and spitting water out, I shut the valve off to the radiator. I went upstairs to the second floor and the radiator look as if a water pipe had broken off, water was just gushing out of the vent. I shut the entire boiler off, and decided to drain her out completly. I then started watching the calls for water, and the glass on the water level. She ran smoothly last night without a sound. This morning I fired her up again, and continuing watching the calls from the low water cut off, to trigger the water feed to feed, No the water feed is not sticking. I only feeded her when I thought she needed water, she ran smoothly all day as well. I am also seeing the water come back on the return as when the boiler cools off, the glass raises on the water level.

1)My question, at what height should the water level be on the glass?
2) Should I repair all install a new low water cut off( Mc Donnell & Miller No.67.
3)Should I just replace the boiler with a new one, or run this one till she dies?
4)The water valve that feeds the automatic water feeder with water, how much should this be open? Fully, half way, a quarter????

Thanks guys, finally getting to the end of this nightmare. Hope to see those feedbacks tonight. Thanks again:thumbsup:
 
#21 ·
Hi helplesshandyman

First things first. The water level in the boiler should never show over half glass when it in shut down. When running most boiler fill switches when properly set will not allow boiler to go below 3/8 glass. This is generally optimum, although some boilers kind of have a mind of there own and operate better on the 1/4 glass running. As far as the fill control, just replace it. The last time I checked on a rebuild kit it was almost impossible to find and when I did finally find one it was almost as expensive as the whole assembly. I am glad to see you are gettting closer to the end of this project.

Good luck
Rusty
 
#22 ·
Steam Heat Trouble

Okay guys, for some reason I don't think its the auto water feed. I think its the low water cut off. The boiler seems to ask for too much water, (the auto feeder kicks on to often) if I let her grab water she floods and starts gushing water out of the radiators. If I shut the auto water feeder off, and constantly watch her, and only feed her when I see she needs water, the boiler works fine. Come on with suggestions before I purchase any parts.

Thanks
 
#24 ·
Hi helplesshandyman

It may just be a matter of fine tuning the low water cut off. There should be a water level adjustment under the cap where the wires go in. Lower your water level to 1/4 glass running and see if that resolves the rest of the problem. If you are not able to adjust, the float capsule may have a bunch of calcium or sludge in it. You may be able to shut water off and shut system down, make sure you let it cool down before making any repairs. Seperate the upper half of the low water cutoff from the lower and see if you can clean it. If you tear the seal up, scrape it off and use a high grade silicone sealant to seal it back up. Let us know where this gets you, it sounds like you are getting close.

Good luck
Rusty
 
#26 ·
Steam Heat

Okay guys, there is no adjustment on the water cut off. I started her up today, and within a period of an hour she called for water 3 times, I beleive this is alot. On two ocassions she did not need water, so I didn't feed her. I waited till she got the water back from the return. To me it seem as if the water cut off is not reading the low water level correct. If I feed her she will flood. I noticed the water level went down to about an inc from the bottom, after the boiler cut of and the water returned from the condesate, the water level reached half way on the glass. Come on guys, with your help I know we can nail this one. Thanks I am positive the water feeder is not the problem, one it looks new, and second it feeds when told too, it just comes on too many times, and I beleive this has to do with the water cut off. McDonnell & Miller No.67
Thanks again!
 
#27 ·
Hi helplesshandyman

Go get your new low water cut off, post a picture of the location of the old one so we can help you make sure the new one does not need relocated up or down. We will be waiting on your reply.

Good luck
Rusty
 
#28 ·
Steam Heat

Hi Carrierman, the old water cut off is attached to the side of the boiler, and to the sight glass as well. So I assume the new one should be installed right there as well. I have a few questions.
1) how many times should the furnace ask for water? Once a day? Once a week? etc.
2) What is the level on the sight glass be on normal, before the boiler fires up?
3) What is the normal level the site glass should be when boiler is fired up and giving steam?
I am new to steam heat, Thanks
 
#29 ·
Hi helplesshandyman

If you scroll up to my post #22 just below the top, you will see the answers. The reason I had asked for pictures, is that if the system was messed up this bad off the start, the low water cutoff may not be in the proper position. As far as a refill, the boiler should only ask for water when it is on the bottom side of the glass, and should only allow enough to maintain its low water level and to keep the boiler from running dry. Hence the name, "low water cutoff". Let me know if this didn't help.

Good luck
Rusty
 
#30 ·
Thanks Carrierman, I went to the house today and started her up, and she started gushing water out of the vent on one of the radiators, the last one on the supply line. I got so pissed off, that I left and forgot to take a picture for you. I will post a picture tomorrow night. I don't even know if its the low water cut off now. Most of these guys out here know nothing about steam heat, everyone just wants to raise the pressure on the boiler, and I am not letting them do that. At the lowest pressure, the heat rises to all the radiators, so I know its not a pressure problem. The view glass was about 3/4 full when I started her up, and she was asking for water at times when she didn't need it, and I didn't feed her. I look at the glass and when I see she starts going below an inch from the bottom, I know she needs water and I open the valve from the auto feeder and let her get water. At times today the glass was half full, glass is 8inc, so the water was at 4 inches and she was asking for water. I know if I flush her the water cut off kicks in, telling the water feeder I need water. But my question is what is telling the boiler I need water, when she is half full on the sight glass? That is my question, what is telling the boiler I need water, when she doesn't? If I can figure this out with anyones help, we can narrow down this problem. I felt like sledge hammering this boiler, but then again I don't have $6000.00 to lay out right now. Please help me out. Thanks. Is it the water feeder?
 
#31 ·
Hi helplesshandyman

I will wait for your pictures and see if we can determine what might be the root cause of the problem. Don't get discouraged, you have made it this far.

Rusty
 
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