Low Water Cutoff in Boiler

Posted by New & Improved - N/F John on November 22, 2007, 10:39 pm

I have float type cutoff switch that gets stuck in the down position after
draining the boiler. I had the service tech over twice and each time all he
did was giggle the switch to start the burner. He said the muck in this old
boiler is the cause. Today it did it again and I did the same thing and
then it eventually unstuck by itself. What a pain!

This cutoff mechanism looks easy enough to take apart to clean. He said he
could do it but it would only muck up again. What do you think I should do?

John

Posted by Bubba on November 22, 2007, 10:49 pm

On Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:39:33 GMT, "New & Improved - N/F John"

>I have float type cutoff switch that gets stuck in the down position after
>draining the boiler. I had the service tech over twice and each time all he
>did was giggle the switch to start the burner. He said the muck in this old
>boiler is the cause. Today it did it again and I did the same thing and
>then it eventually unstuck by itself. What a pain!
>This cutoff mechanism looks easy enough to take apart to clean. He said he
>could do it but it would only muck up again. What do you think I should do?
>John

John,
You giggling tech is a smuck, lazy or doesnt want to make any money.
Its simple but Id recommend a professional do it. Order the gasket/s
for the low water cut off. Shut off the boiler. Drain it below the cut
off. Disassemble the unit. Scrape and flush the gook out. Dont be too
rough with the float mechanism. Put it back together with new gaskets,
fill the boiler and run it. Test it by draining water and make sure
the burner stops. Then start flushing the crap out of your boiler.
Bubba

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on November 23, 2007, 12:10 am

>I have float type cutoff switch that gets stuck in the down position after
> draining the boiler. I had the service tech over twice and each time all
> he
> did was giggle the switch to start the burner. He said the muck in this
> old
> boiler is the cause. Today it did it again and I did the same thing and
> then it eventually unstuck by itself. What a pain!
> This cutoff mechanism looks easy enough to take apart to clean. He said
> he
> could do it but it would only muck up again. What do you think I should
> do?
> John

The service tech is an idiot. As Bubba stated, order the gaskets and clean
the shutoff. If there is a lot of muck, look at what has to be done to
clean the entire boiler. That muck can make for poor heat transfer and loss
of efficiency.

Low water cut off is a very important safety device. Care for it properly.

Posted by The Freon Cowboy on November 23, 2007, 8:22 am

clean out the low water cutoff, reassemble,

then learn to blow the thing down regularly !!!!!!!!!!!

>I have float type cutoff switch that gets stuck in the down position

after”draining the boiler. I had the service tech over twice and each time
all he

Posted by New & Improved - N/F John on November 23, 2007, 6:13 pm

What can be done to flush it? Should I attach a garden hose to the drain on
the covered piping and force water in the opposite direction? What about
some air pressure?

> clean out the low water cutoff, reassemble,
> then learn to blow the thing down regularly !!!!!!!!!!!

> >I have float type cutoff switch that gets stuck in the down position

> after”draining the boiler. I had the service tech over twice and each

time

> all he

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