Need help with a pressure problem. Two floor house with four heating loops. My
hot water heating system is 4 yrs. old and has been fine until a few weeks ago.
I checked the pressure gage and it read about 50 psi. Turned off the boiler
and jiggles the high pressure valve and wosh it dumped water on the floor.
Must have been stuck since it is supposed to go off at 30 psi.. Since then
service people put in a new fill regulator valve and closed the fill line valve
but pressure is still eratic. I drained out several pails of water just to try
to maintain about 10 psi when operating. Then a new vent valve was put in. But
the pressure still keeps climbing when the boiler gets hot and i'm still
draining about 1/2 pail every day. Repair guys don't seem to know what to do.
I'd appreciate any guidance.

Rsrtgsprngs wrote:

Need help with a pressure problem. Two floor house with four heating loops. My
hot water heating system is 4 yrs. old and has been fine until a few weeks ago.
I checked the pressure gage and it read about 50 psi. Turned off the boiler
and jiggles the high pressure valve and wosh it dumped water on the floor.
Must have been stuck since it is supposed to go off at 30 psi.. Since then
service people put in a new fill regulator valve and closed the fill line valve
but pressure is still eratic. I drained out several pails of water just to try
to maintain about 10 psi when operating. Then a new vent valve was put in. But
the pressure still keeps climbing when the boiler gets hot and i'm still
draining about 1/2 pail every day. Repair guys don't seem to know what to do.
I'd appreciate any guidance.

Good chance the expansion tank has failed (or needs air charge).
On a 4 yr old system, this has to be a bladder-type tank.
Did they check that?

Jim

Pressure should be 12 PSI cold and increase to about 18-20 PSI when water is heated
up.
Do you have an expansion tank with a drain ? If so you might try draining it.
From what you say it sounds like you are trying to maintain 10 PSI when cold and
hot both which you can not do.
If you let out pressure when the water is hot, the automatic feed will just put it
back in when the water cools down.
Even though you indicated that the make up valve has been closed, I suspect it is
either not closed or is closed but defective and still allowing water through.


Rsrtgsprngs wrote:

Need help with a pressure problem. Two floor house with four heating loops. My
hot water heating system is 4 yrs. old and has been fine until a few weeks ago.
I checked the pressure gage and it read about 50 psi. Turned off the boiler
and jiggles the high pressure valve and wosh it dumped water on the floor.
Must have been stuck since it is supposed to go off at 30 psi.. Since then
service people put in a new fill regulator valve and closed the fill line valve
but pressure is still eratic. I drained out several pails of water just to try
to maintain about 10 psi when operating. Then a new vent valve was put in. But
the pressure still keeps climbing when the boiler gets hot and i'm still
draining about 1/2 pail every day. Repair guys don't seem to know what to do.
I'd appreciate any guidance.

Thanks for your reply.

He tapped on it and it did not sound full of water and the bottom was not
warm. He did not check the pressure. Can I just put a tire air gage on it to
see it if has the 12 lbs. the label says it should be charged with?

So gfar the weather has been mild so I haven't raised the water temp above
about 130 degrees. But for winter it's usually 180. That will expand the water
more giving higher pressure. Am I right?

Could there be too much water in the system? And if so how do I know not too
drain too much?

I love hot water heat but grew up with steam heated radiators and at least the
water glass on the boiler let you know if there was too much or too little
water in the system.

Rsrtgsprngs wrote:
Thanks for your reply.

He tapped on it and it did not sound full of water and the bottom was not
warm. He did not check the pressure. Can I just put a tire air gage on it to
see it if has the 12 lbs. the label says it should be charged with?

Yes, the tire gauge is adequate.

So gfar the weather has been mild so I haven't raised the water temp above
about 130 degrees. But for winter it's usually 180. That will expand the water
more giving higher pressure. Am I right?

Yes, you'll have even more trouble.


Could there be too much water in the system? And if so how do I know not too
drain too much?

You need the max amount of water in the system; the only air
should be in the tank. You determine how much water to add
by monitoring the pressure ( as you've been doing).


I love hot water heat but grew up with steam heated radiators and at least the
water glass on the boiler let you know if there was too much or too little
water in the system.

Yep, completely different.
Stop by the library and see if they have a home guide on
heating systems.
Jim

big thing here...yes, you can use a tire gauge, but the 12#'s is with an
empty system. Theoretically you can take your current system pressure and
add 12#'s and that should be fairly close to what your bladder pressure
should be.

Yes, 180deg will be a higher pressure, that's what the expension tank is
for...to accomadate that pressure.



"Rsrtgsprngs" wrote in message
...
Thanks for your reply.

He tapped on it and it did not sound full of water and the bottom was not
warm. He did not check the pressure. Can I just put a tire air gage on it
to
see it if has the 12 lbs. the label says it should be charged with?

So gfar the weather has been mild so I haven't raised the water temp above
about 130 degrees. But for winter it's usually 180. That will expand the
water
more giving higher pressure. Am I right?

Could there be too much water in the system? And if so how do I know not
too
drain too much?

I love hot water heat but grew up with steam heated radiators and at least
the
water glass on the boiler let you know if there was too much or too little
water in the system.

Be sure your auto feed valve and feed are off, set to correct pressure
10-12 cold, drain expansion tank and see if it climbs again. Does the
expansion tank have an autrol valve, it could be bad. Ck the lb rating
on the relief valve, it should be 35lb. Dont let it go to 50lb.
Post at " The Wall" for alot of boiler people and good advise. Alt hvac
is a joke.