I am a homeowner with a steam boiler that is probably 20+ years old. I seem to be having a problem with my low water cut-off, unless I am not understanding how it works.
The boiler has an automatic water feed, so whenever I release water through the blowdown pipe, the water feed fills the tank right back up. No problem. To test the low-water cutoff, I closed the valve that sits right before the water feed mechanism, choking off the water supply, then released the tank's water through the blow down valve. Even when the tank got down to practically empty, the boiler kept firing. (I reopened the valve so the tank filled back up before any accident could occur.)
Seems like in the past, the boiler would shut off until I restored the water supply. Perhaps I am remembering it wrong, but I don't think I am.
So is my low-water cutoff valve shot, or am I misunderstanding how it works?
Thanks
The boiler has an automatic water feed, so whenever I release water through the blowdown pipe, the water feed fills the tank right back up. No problem. To test the low-water cutoff, I closed the valve that sits right before the water feed mechanism, choking off the water supply, then released the tank's water through the blow down valve. Even when the tank got down to practically empty, the boiler kept firing. (I reopened the valve so the tank filled back up before any accident could occur.)
Seems like in the past, the boiler would shut off until I restored the water supply. Perhaps I am remembering it wrong, but I don't think I am.
So is my low-water cutoff valve shot, or am I misunderstanding how it works?
Thanks