Va-600 Water Pressure ?

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RON1958
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Post by RON1958 » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 8:42 am

Been running fine till the other day, keep water at about 180 and pressure @ 20. When stoker is not running and water temp goes down to around 160 the pressure drops to 0. Soon as she fires and goes back to 180 the pressure returns to 20 again. Is this normal? It's heating the house just fine. I'm also gonna try the 2" pulley on the motor deal to see if I can cut coal usage a bit? Any thoughts on this is appreciated.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 9:41 am

Ron, what you have described is usually the symptom of failed/flooded expansion tank, or not enough water in the system.

 
RON1958
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Posts: 67
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Location: Port Matilda, Pa. Area (Stormstown)
Stoker Coal Boiler: Van Wert 600
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
Coal Size/Type: chestnut , buck

Post by RON1958 » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 11:42 am

Its brand new,has air in it?


 
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nepacoal
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Post by nepacoal » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 11:47 am

Does your boiler have an air vent on top? Our EFM's pressure does odd stuff (usually higher) when there is air in the boiler. We have a manual coin vent on the top. Not sure why yours drops to zero at 160° but our pressure will drop from 20 to 15 by just letting the air out.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 11:53 am

RON1958 wrote:
Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 11:42 am
Its brand new,has air in it?
Do you have an automatic water feeder on the system? If you do not, or it is turned off, you probably need to add a little water to the system. It is not uncommon to need some makeup water after the air from the initial fill is removed.

 
RON1958
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Posts: 67
Joined: Sun. Jan. 23, 2022 9:34 am
Location: Port Matilda, Pa. Area (Stormstown)
Stoker Coal Boiler: Van Wert 600
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
Coal Size/Type: chestnut , buck

Post by RON1958 » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 11:58 am

I manual feed. I'll add a bit and see how she goes.


 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 1:21 pm

RON1958 wrote:
Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 11:58 am
I manual feed. I'll add a bit and see how she goes.
That is your issue, the system needs some water added.

Get yourself a fill valve and install it. You can always valve it off if you want to monitor for leaks.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Boiler-Fill-Valves-17081000

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Thu. Mar. 23, 2023 2:28 pm

I assume the air bladder in the expansion tank was tested for air pressure while there was no water pressure on the boiler?

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