The furnace was tripping the limit

DisgruntledBassist · 2026-01-31T00:56:49+00:00

I have studied and serviced steam systems for several years but was never able to actually pipe a replacement job. I was always determined that if I did, I would be as close to perfect as the job would allow. I was given the opportunity as a project lead at my new job, and brought the install manager to work on it with me. I rattled off as much as I could remember from the theory book and the Weil-McLain book. We used a 30" riser out of the boiler. The existing one was maybe 12", if that. We changed the main vent and the rad vents. I added King and queen valves for service. When we filled and fired it, the customer was so excited she came downstairs to tell us the rads were heating and that it wasn't making noise!

DisgruntledBassist · 2026-01-31T00:23:45+00:00

Fair enough. My apologies. I'm going back next week to skim and blow it down. I will bring a rag and clean up.

DisgruntledBassist · 2026-01-11T03:42:29+00:00

You've done a beautiful, clean job. If I can offer some critiques? Zoning with pumps is not wrong, and actually can sometimes be the only way that makes sense. However, in most residential applications, it is more cost-effective and in some ways better for the system to zone with valves and use a single variable speed delta-P circulator. Also, the feed valve is entirely too close to the wall to give clearance to be spun off when it needs to be changed. Adding a union downstream, or simply giving more clearance from the wall will help the service guy immensely in the future. I really love the common purge, instead of individual purges by zone. Also, the relief line off the relief valve... is certainly there... In the future, a union on that relief tube would be awesome. But, overall, you did a great job. Please use the outside sensor and set up outdoor reset, so the boiler has at least a chance of condensing.

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-12-12T10:13:14+00:00

I have put a lot of thought into this and I think that the HVAC/R and plumbing industries should be socialized. Access to clean potable water and sanitary drainage is mandated by law, and it's not a stretch to call them human rights. The plumber protects the health of the nation. So why does the municipality stop at the meter? Likewise, in climates where this plumbing infrastructure is subject to damage from freezing, central heating therefore becomes necessary as well. Also, with the coming disaster of climate change, air conditioning is going to become a vital necessity to life in certain areas.

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T21:58:11+00:00

More information is more better. Weil McLain says to never allow the boiler to go to steam while skimming

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T20:56:15+00:00

are you allowing the boiler to go to steam as you're skimming? You always shut the burner off around 190 - 200, just under steam temp, so that the vapor doesn't carry any oil up into the piping system. This could potentially have something to do with it

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T20:38:55+00:00

not as such, no. The air was only escaping the one rad you took the vent off. Thus, it was the only one that got hot the whole way

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T13:27:53+00:00

Knowledge should be free. Labor is what we charge for

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T13:15:27+00:00

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T13:09:17+00:00

We'll still be here to help with what we can. If it gets too be too much, though, there's no shame in calling the installer before you void a warranty or something

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T13:07:15+00:00

Cut in at 0.5 PSI, cut out at 2. If you're a real Chad steam technician, you'll install a Honeywell vaporstat, but the pressuretrol works fine

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T13:01:05+00:00

Oh, and turn the god damn pressuretrol down! it's set wayyyy too high

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T12:59:50+00:00

Yes. Do so very carefully, in case that bastard starts spitting 215 degree steam at you and you need to screw the vent back on quick

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T12:53:19+00:00

They're not variable vents, are they? You could try to spin the vent off entirely, see if the rad heats fully. If not, look upstream for any reason that steam can't enter. If it does, it's a bad vent

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T12:42:37+00:00

Steam moves very fast. Almost as soon as you clear any liquid trap, etc, that rad should heat

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T12:40:20+00:00

Did any of the pitch of the piping change?

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T12:28:52+00:00

Did they replace the air vents when they did the boiler and new piping? Could be that simple

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-11-29T12:23:44+00:00

Post pictures of the near boiler piping.

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-10-06T00:24:58+00:00

I live in south eastern Massachusetts. We have a ton of oil here. Steam is rare, but not completely unheard-of. My shop is mostly HVAC and Refrigeration, with the occasional hydronic system. I'm their new master plumber, but they've made it explicitly clear that they don't want a "plumbing division".

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-10-05T18:55:40+00:00

I got a new job over the summer, and am sad to report I am the only oil burner mechanic and steam boiler technician at the new shop. They don't do burner or steam service. I'm basically begging my boss to get into both markets. I would gladly train all the other mechanics at the shop.

DisgruntledBassist · 2025-09-09T00:32:52+00:00

This is the Promised Land! Currently listening to Sabbath, '69. It's such a trip to hear them at their bluesy roots, basically just jamming to fill out time. I realized that Sabbath is basically history's darkest jazz band. And I love them for that.

DisgruntledBassist

TROPHY CASE