inconsistent high boiler pressure

Posted by Silo on December 19, 2006, 3:31 pm

Hello
Can someone help me with a gas fired boiler. I have an old American
Standard
boiler that has developed a problem with tank pessure
exceeding 30 psi. which
blows the 25 psi pop off valve. And then
returns to 10 - 15 psi for hours at a
time and then out of the blue it
builds to much preesure and the safety valve
goes off? Coincidence or
not this problem started immediately after a "free"
inspection? I have
so far replaced the pop off valve and the water pressure
reducing fill
valve. I also notice my Aquastat was set to maximum temp of 200
degrees. Other than the pressure the boiler is working fine. Does
anybody have
any ideas?

--
Silo

Posted by Speedy Jim on December 19, 2006, 5:25 pm

Silo wrote:

> Hello
> Can someone help me with a gas fired boiler. I have an old American
> Standard boiler that has developed a problem with tank pessure
> exceeding 30 psi. which blows the 25 psi pop off valve. And then
> returns to 10 - 15 psi for hours at a time and then out of the blue it
> builds to much preesure and the safety valve goes off? Coincidence or
> not this problem started immediately after a "free" inspection? I have
> so far replaced the pop off valve and the water pressure reducing fill
> valve. I also notice my Aquastat was set to maximum temp of 200
> degrees. Other than the pressure the boiler is working fine. Does
> anybody have any ideas?
>
>
>
>

Be 100% certain that *no* water is being fed to
the boiler, even via a bypass/manual fill valve.
One good tipoff is if the feed pipe feels cool.

If no water is being fed, the pressure should not go up
dramatically, UNLESS the expansion tank is waterlogged.
If it's a diaphragm tank, it may have failed internally.

Jim

Posted by Speedy Jim on December 19, 2006, 6:19 pm

Speedy Jim wrote:

> Silo wrote:
>

>> Hello Can someone help me with a gas fired boiler. I have an old American
>> Standard boiler that has developed a problem with tank pessure
>> exceeding 30 psi. which blows the 25 psi pop off valve. And then
>> returns to 10 - 15 psi for hours at a time and then out of the blue it
>> builds to much preesure and the safety valve goes off? Coincidence or
>> not this problem started immediately after a "free" inspection? I have
>> so far replaced the pop off valve and the water pressure reducing fill
>> valve. I also notice my Aquastat was set to maximum temp of 200
>> degrees. Other than the pressure the boiler is working fine. Does
>> anybody have any ideas?

> Be 100% certain that *no* water is being fed to
> the boiler, even via a bypass/manual fill valve.
> One good tipoff is if the feed pipe feels cool.
>
> If no water is being fed, the pressure should not go up
> dramatically, UNLESS the expansion tank is waterlogged.
> If it's a diaphragm tank, it may have failed internally.
>
> Jim

I should have added that control failures might cause
high pressure. For example, if the circ pump(s) quit
running and/or the aquastat stuck closed, the boiler
could fire continuously and it would wind up steaming
till the relief went.

Jim

Posted by Silo on December 20, 2006, 3:07 pm

Speedy Jim Wrote:

> Speedy Jim wrote:
> -
> Silo wrote:
> -
> Hello Can someone help me with a gas fired boiler. I have an old
> American
> Standard boiler that has developed a problem with tank pessure
> exceeding 30 psi. which blows the 25 psi pop off valve. And then
> returns to 10 - 15 psi for hours at a time and then out of the blue
> it
> builds to much preesure and the safety valve goes off? Coincidence or
> not this problem started immediately after a "free" inspection? I
> have
> so far replaced the pop off valve and the water pressure reducing
> fill
> valve. I also notice my Aquastat was set to maximum temp of 200
> degrees. Other than the pressure the boiler is working fine. Does
> anybody have any ideas?
>
>
>
> -
> Be 100% certain that *no* water is being fed to
> the boiler, even via a bypass/manual fill valve.
> One good tipoff is if the feed pipe feels cool.
>
> If no water is being fed, the pressure should not go up
> dramatically, UNLESS the expansion tank is waterlogged.
> If it's a diaphragm tank, it may have failed internally.
>
> Jim-
>
> I should have added that control failures might cause
> high pressure. For example, if the circ pump(s) quit
> running and/or the aquastat stuck closed, the boiler
> could fire continuously and it would wind up steaming
> till the relief went.
>
> Jim

Thanks Jim for the advice. I can tell you the boiler does not fire
constantly. The circ pump seems to be running fine. I put a gauge on
the expansion tank valve and got 0 psi? I tried to put air in the tank
and it wouldn't take it. is there some kind of "special" adapter for
this? I put my tire chuck on there with 160 psi from my air compressor
and I couldn't get it take any air?

--
Silo

Posted by Speedy Jim on December 20, 2006, 4:43 pm

Silo wrote:

> Speedy Jim Wrote:
>

>>Speedy Jim wrote:
>>-
>>Silo wrote:
>>-
>>Hello Can someone help me with a gas fired boiler. I have an old
>>American
>>Standard boiler that has developed a problem with tank pessure
>>exceeding 30 psi. which blows the 25 psi pop off valve. And then
>>returns to 10 - 15 psi for hours at a time and then out of the blue
>>it
>>builds to much preesure and the safety valve goes off? Coincidence or
>>not this problem started immediately after a "free" inspection? I
>>have
>>so far replaced the pop off valve and the water pressure reducing
>>fill
>>valve. I also notice my Aquastat was set to maximum temp of 200
>>degrees. Other than the pressure the boiler is working fine. Does
>>anybody have any ideas?
>>-
>>Be 100% certain that *no* water is being fed to
>>the boiler, even via a bypass/manual fill valve.
>>One good tipoff is if the feed pipe feels cool.
>>If no water is being fed, the pressure should not go up
>>dramatically, UNLESS the expansion tank is waterlogged.
>>If it's a diaphragm tank, it may have failed internally.
>>Jim-
>>I should have added that control failures might cause
>>high pressure. For example, if the circ pump(s) quit
>>running and/or the aquastat stuck closed, the boiler
>>could fire continuously and it would wind up steaming
>>till the relief went.
>>Jim

>
>
>
> Thanks Jim for the advice. I can tell you the boiler does not fire
> constantly. The circ pump seems to be running fine. I put a gauge on
> the expansion tank valve and got 0 psi? I tried to put air in the tank
> and it wouldn't take it. is there some kind of "special" adapter for
> this? I put my tire chuck on there with 160 psi from my air compressor
> and I couldn't get it take any air?
>
>
>
>

The Schrader valve on the tank may be stuck.
You could try to operate it with a small diam drill bit
or the like.

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