pressure gauge
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350 with an S-20 pot (1966)
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
I was wondering what is causing my pressure gauge to go to the max range to 50? Everything else is fine not wasting any coal and my aquastat is 180 - 200. No problem with heat. This gauge started doing this about 3 weeks ago. Any ideas or what it could be?
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- StokerDon
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If that is the only pressure gauge in your system, the first thing to ask is, Does your pressure relief valve work?
There are only two causes I can think of. Either the gauge is just wacky or domestic water pressure is leaking into your boiler.
-Don
There are only two causes I can think of. Either the gauge is just wacky or domestic water pressure is leaking into your boiler.
-Don
- CoalisCoolxWarm
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Why two needles? Is the one on the 50 movable with a dial, screw, etc?
Even the other at 30 is too high (unless steam).
I think Don is right, let's try a few things to see.
I'd turn off the fresh water valve (you have one ahead of the PRV/fill valve, right?), carefully remove some water using a heat glove by popping the relieve (TPV) until the pressure comes down.
Water will come out violently, be ready where it goes!
You usually have to push the top of the TPV back down to close it.
That should clear your TPV. Do you have your bypass lever set on your PRV? If so, it will allow full house water pressure against the system.
Even the other at 30 is too high (unless steam).
I think Don is right, let's try a few things to see.
I'd turn off the fresh water valve (you have one ahead of the PRV/fill valve, right?), carefully remove some water using a heat glove by popping the relieve (TPV) until the pressure comes down.
Water will come out violently, be ready where it goes!
You usually have to push the top of the TPV back down to close it.
That should clear your TPV. Do you have your bypass lever set on your PRV? If so, it will allow full house water pressure against the system.
-
- Member
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Thu. Aug. 06, 2009 9:06 pm
- Location: n central PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350 with an S-20 pot (1966)
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
Its a hot water system. With 3 circulators. I do have a bypass on the boiler. Like I said this just started. The pressure relief valve does blow off at times maybe once a day or so.
- CoalisCoolxWarm
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
- Other Heating: Oil Boiler
It's also quite possible that your expansion tank is either water logged (if steel) and needs some water drained out of it, or the bladder has failed (if a bladder type).
If bladder type, take the air fill cap off and push in the air valve gut a little (like letting some air out of a tire). NO WATER should come out. If it does, 100% sure it has failed.
Hope this helps. Again, be careful of hot water.
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There are only a couple reasons a PRV will blow off, bad valve, or too much pressure. Sounds like you have a leak into your system as mentioned above.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
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- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Agreed, most likely either the water feed valve or the domestic hot water coil is leaking house pressure into your boiler system.
As stated above to easiest thing to try first is, shut off the water to the feed valve. Then dump the pressure down to normal with the PRV. If the pressure rises, that is not the problem. Then its on to the domestic hot water coil.
-Don
- coalkirk
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I’m questioning your statement that even at 30 psi the pressure is too high unless steam. No doubt his pressure is too high but regarding a steam system pressure should only be about 2 psi.CoalisCoolxWarm wrote: ↑Sun. Nov. 11, 2018 9:20 amWhy two needles? Is the one on the 50 movable with a dial, screw, etc?
Even the other at 30 is too high (unless steam).
I think Don is right, let's try a few things to see.
I'd turn off the fresh water valve (you have one ahead of the PRV/fill valve, right?), carefully remove some water using a heat glove by popping the relieve (TPV) until the pressure comes down.
Water will come out violently, be ready where it goes!
You usually have to push the top of the TPV back down to close it.
That should clear your TPV. Do you have your bypass lever set on your PRV? If so, it will allow full house water pressure against the system.
- CoalisCoolxWarm
- Member
- Posts: 2323
- Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Western PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
- Other Heating: Oil Boiler
Good point. *Residential* steam is low pressure. Thanks for pointing that out.