by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
Boiler Pressure Problem - Hello, where I live, it’s mostly gas furnaces with air conditioners or heat pumps. My boiler just started causing problems with high pressure. I work in HVAC as a technician but do not have a lot of experience with hot water or steam boilers. I’ve been doing this for 15 yrs but don’t have a lot of experience diagnosing anything water-related. Additionally, it’s a 6-year-old (approximately) Burnham boiler with old cast iron radiators.
This year it started having problems with the relief blowing. The boiler set temp is 170 at the aquastat. It’s a gas boiler if that makes any difference for a boiler system. Finally, can you help me out with the boiler pressure problem? Thanks!! (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
Boiler Zone Heating Circulation Problem - Hello, I have a Peerless boiler and recently it had been inspected by a buddy who has been in the business for 35+ years. He installed a new pressure-reducing valve in the rear which was leaking very little. I have 3 zone valves in a split-level ranch home. One for the finished basement and two for the 1st floor ( upstairs), It is obviously a split-off.
Anyways, I am getting heat upstairs, but the pipes don’t tick like they used to, and also, one of the return lines to an upstairs zone valve is lukewarm, and the other is hot. Now the basement gets plenty of hot water going to it, but the pipes don’t tick at all, and the return is cold to its zone valve. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
Honeywell Zone Valve 8043 Model
Honeywell Zone Valve Problem - I have a Honeywell zone valve (8043E). I have spent time trying to understand exactly how this valve works, and I am pretty close, except for one thing: the motor. When the thermostat makes, that causes the slow-motion motor to turn, which opens the valve.
Eventually, when fully open, a tang presses the end switch to turn on the circulator pump and ignite the boiler (via red wire circuit). Though the thermostat is still closed (because we’re heating), something causes the motor to stop. What is this mechanism? (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
How to Bleed Baseboards and Radiators - Richard, my wife and I just purchased a new (older) home that has a hot water boiler in the basement. We used it last winter with no problems. We think it makes excellent heat, much better heat than the old forced air system we had in our previous house.
The problem is that some of our radiators have stopped heating. I am wondering what happened. Our boiler works fine, and most of the radiators work. But there are a few that do not heat at all. Please help!! Thanks (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
What you can expect to learn from the Hot Water Boiler Sequence of Operation Aquastats article:
- About sequence of operation for boilers
- The basic sequence of operation for the typical boiler
- Boiler controllers and boiler control strategies
- Hot water boiler sequence of operation conclusion
- Lots of resources and related links to help you take a closer look and learn more. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
The difference between a steel expansion tank and a bladder type expansion tank.
How Expansion Tanks Work: What is an expansion, and how does it work? I get that question all the time even though I have written an extensive article on expansion tanks. The two most common expansion tanks you will see in HVAC applications include the bladder-type expansion tank and the steel-type expansion tank. Additionally, the steel-type expansion tank needs some basic maintenance from time to time to ensure it doesn’t become waterlogged or overfilled, which would defeat the purpose of having an expansion tank. Furthermore, for more on the basic maintenance of a steel expansion tank and how to properly fill it check out this article. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
This pump has a coupling device between the motor and the impeller.
Boiler Circulation Problems | Troubleshooting Hydronic Water Loops – Richard, we have a hot water boiler and we are having problems with the circulation of the water. The radiators are cool and we don’t seem to have good heat. The boiler seems to be working fine but the radiators are cool. Can you give me some insight into my boiler circulation problem? Kate
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by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
Pressure Reducer - Blue Arrow & Backflow Preventer - Red Arrow
Pressure Reducer Valves are used for boilers to decrease the pressure supplied to the boiler from the make-up water feed. The make-up water feed originates from the city water source or well water source. The same water source you use for showering, washing dishes, and sometimes drinking water depending on the quality. In many cases, the pressure reducer valve or PRV is set to 12 PSI on most boilers. This is the proper boiler pressure needed for many residential and commercial boiler water loops. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
Why Does My Steam Boiler Run Out of Water - All boilers need a constant supply of water from a make-up water source. In a steam boiler system, there are vents that vent condensation. The vents can be found on the radiators and throughout the pipe system especially on large systems that serve larger buildings. Venting is limited to a small amount of the entire H2O and steam volume inside the piping and radiators but does need to be replaced.
Most of the steam condenses and is returned to the boiler through the return piping system either by gravity or a condensate pump. As the system uses steam it vents the condensation of steam and this displaces water from the steam system that needs to be replaced and the replacement H2O comes from a make-up water source. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
How to Clean Gas Boiler Burners - Before beginning boiler maintenance or repair including cleaning the gas boiler burners on any boiler, it is important to follow all safety procedures. Turn off the gas to the boiler at the gas cock. This is located on the gas line and turns off the gas valve on the boiler. Additionally, turn off the main power to the boiler at the circuit breaker. Never ignore safety procedures when performing maintenance on any type of mechanical or electrical equipment. (more…)
