Hids2000
New Member
I have a Mclain gas steam boiler, my best guess it is EG 40 or EG45. Friend came over for Xmas and we were just hanging around the house, when I told him I better go to the basement to add some water to the boiler. Anyway he thinks I have a leak because I add water to the boiler about every other day. I add water to about 3/4 up on the water sight glass, and i wait till it goes down to about 1/4 on the glass before adding.
To my best guess this boiler is close to 20years old. I can't find the serial number on the boiler. I searched the forum and checked everything and I only found 2 very small leak. I have a one pipe system and all the pipes are above ground. When the boiler first kicks in there is some banging on the pipes but goes away quickly. I don't see any leak, wet walls, on or around any of the 7 radiators. I checked each of the radiators vent valve on the side to make sure it does close after steam fills the radiator. All the radiators are hot and measures over 210F on my hand held laser temp gauge. I usually let to set the house to about 74F.
I live in New Jersey just west of New york city.
When the boiler is on, it will kick off at 4psi, and back on at 2.5psi. The water level does move up and down in the sight glass but no more than 1/4" in movement.
I see one very small leak if you can even call it that at the top of the brass nut that holds the water level sight glass, i only notice it because after a while some water will slowly move down on the outside of the glass. I didn't want to tight that down too much thinking I may crack the glass. I will replace that glass during the summer.
The other small leak is at the 1.25" radiator angle valve and I can hear a small amount of steam leaking from the valve stem, but I do not see steam or water on the stem or valve body. I will go to the store and buy a new valve anyway. Currently i have no way of measuring how much water i am adding to the boiler. Unless there are other small leaks inside of the walls that I don't see. I agree with him that it seems I am adding much more water than the 2 little leaks I found? Than again maybe those leaks will lose enough water over a day?
My next step is to go outside tomorrow and see if there is steam coming out of my chimney but i have never notice it pulling up to my house during the day time.
My friend has an oil boiler says he only add water about once per week, but he set his house to 68F, and his system is 2 years old, so i know its almost apples to oranges.
I never had any maintenance done on the boiler by a vendor, i just drain the water every 2 weeks till the black color is gone and fill it up with water.
Am I missing any maintenance? If so any ball park idea on how much it costs to have a company do such PM? Is it done once per season?
thanks for any suggestions.
To my best guess this boiler is close to 20years old. I can't find the serial number on the boiler. I searched the forum and checked everything and I only found 2 very small leak. I have a one pipe system and all the pipes are above ground. When the boiler first kicks in there is some banging on the pipes but goes away quickly. I don't see any leak, wet walls, on or around any of the 7 radiators. I checked each of the radiators vent valve on the side to make sure it does close after steam fills the radiator. All the radiators are hot and measures over 210F on my hand held laser temp gauge. I usually let to set the house to about 74F.
I live in New Jersey just west of New york city.
When the boiler is on, it will kick off at 4psi, and back on at 2.5psi. The water level does move up and down in the sight glass but no more than 1/4" in movement.
I see one very small leak if you can even call it that at the top of the brass nut that holds the water level sight glass, i only notice it because after a while some water will slowly move down on the outside of the glass. I didn't want to tight that down too much thinking I may crack the glass. I will replace that glass during the summer.
The other small leak is at the 1.25" radiator angle valve and I can hear a small amount of steam leaking from the valve stem, but I do not see steam or water on the stem or valve body. I will go to the store and buy a new valve anyway. Currently i have no way of measuring how much water i am adding to the boiler. Unless there are other small leaks inside of the walls that I don't see. I agree with him that it seems I am adding much more water than the 2 little leaks I found? Than again maybe those leaks will lose enough water over a day?
My next step is to go outside tomorrow and see if there is steam coming out of my chimney but i have never notice it pulling up to my house during the day time.
My friend has an oil boiler says he only add water about once per week, but he set his house to 68F, and his system is 2 years old, so i know its almost apples to oranges.
I never had any maintenance done on the boiler by a vendor, i just drain the water every 2 weeks till the black color is gone and fill it up with water.
Am I missing any maintenance? If so any ball park idea on how much it costs to have a company do such PM? Is it done once per season?
thanks for any suggestions.