Steam Boiler Banging/ Hammering Noises Leaky Air Vent

I am working on a steam boiler that's air vent leaks water. Also, the boiler bangs when heating. I find the boiler overfilled. Therefore I drain the water out of the boiler. Next, I replace the sight glass that's difficult to see through. Then I flush out the shut-off valve under the boiler's sight glass. The union past the auto-feed I open, looking for why the boiler was overfilled. Troubleshooting why boiler overfilled. Water slowly leaked past the auto-feed solenoid. Finally, I refill the boiler and test the boiler. Banging went away, and so did the air vent leak.

[@zhanghank7814]

I rarely put down comments on KZbin videos but did for this one. I searched for HVAC cause mine is having a hammering sound. No idea what that is as a new homeowner. Not only it helped me to find an overfilled sight glass(clogged as well) but also gave me the BALL to touch this giant machine on my own first time. DIY is great. Not easy, water everywhere in my basement but I luckily got it all to reset. now give it a couple of days to test if my auto filler is working fine Drained about 40-gallon rust water. Big Thanks to this video.

[@atlasfueloilinc.2421]

One good thing is we didn’t see a gas can between the boiler and the gas water heater. Found in more homes then you would think. I did enjoy and can relate to your conversation with the home owner. A great boiler man is 60% mechanic and 40% therapist. We are like bartenders that come to your home and deal with all of your problems. We see people in their natural habitat.

[@bahramsoroush2228]

Thank you for explaining and showing the cause and effect of over filling water , I wish we had a technician like you in Washington DC area, I need one now.

[@johnhejl6719]

Those look so fun to work on. We don't have steam boilers here in Tucson, Az. Maybe in some of the OLD houses from the 50s. But generally people had fire places back then. Now everyone has heat pumps and gas heat.

[@metx9915]

Wow that header what a job . Has to be spit some serious wet steam. I love the equalizer.

[@thehvachacker]

The boiler doesnt ever bang with the header incorrectly piped. That will be addressed when boiler gets changed. It’s been like that since the boiler went in late 70’s early 80’s. I’m surprised the solder joints are not all crusted up.

[@thatbrandenkid]

Why cant people control their dogs. most calls ive been on the big dogs are angels, while the little ones are demons

[@thatbrandenkid]

3 dogs in a cage like wtf

[@Monaco_mechanical]

So funny this video came up... I was literally just on a call to a house with these problems. Rads were full of water, cold as ice. I couldn't figure it out till I went back to mech room and I heard the slightest hiss. Old gate valve feeding boiler was passing and overfilling the system. Customer got a free skim tapping from me lol

[@carlosbarreiro1761]

I want to start by thanking you for being a true , honest, professional craftsman of your profession, you help me save $300 with my local service man in a simple removal of water from my steam boiler, the banging noise was keeping us awake all night, you very informative and knowledgeable thanks again it took me 30 minutes to fix the noise i will watch your videos you seen to know what you doing, thanks again.

[@donniemi1613]

No one ever told me I had to drain my boiler I wish they have to maintenance on the boiler.thank you

[@tiddiboy4075]

Every other week atleast a bucket for steam boiler

[@danielwilliams3978]

This Tech is right in regard to the site glass, the rubber gaskets. More often than not the top of the glass has worn down and when you reinstall it it cracks. I’ve spent in some cases 1/2 hr attempting to clean the glass. The new glass is much less expensive than a half hr of time. I think this tech was very polite to the customer and I think he did a good job on this boiler. So to the guy who said Fuck em, well right back at you buddy.

[@davidlampe4153]

Good job working on the old boiler. You didn’t over complicate your account of what’s wrong. Good explanation for the issue. Old woman kept asking how much. What’s your take on why they didn’t drain the boiler? You are supposed to be performing maintenance during the heating season. Drain the boiler to help remove the sediment (mud) because it costs more to boil mud than water. You should probably sell her a replacement anode for her water heater so you can drain and flush the water heater.

[@raindogs451]

Anode?!?! That boiler is put in criminally. The near boiler piping needs to be completely redone.

[@elioselectric468]

That was nice of her to remove the cob webs, lol. Tech life

[@thehvachacker]

Yes she always concerned about everything. A good friend of mines mom. I spent time hanging out in this house

[@petecheng1]

what a nice tech, hard to find that here.

[@michaeldower5619]

Great video!!

[@petersmart1999]

Those Knipex pliers are my favorite tool,I have all three sizes S,M,L

[@jenniferbyrne8334]

Wow, that copper header is something. Whoever put in that boiler must have followed the part of the instruction manual that shows how not to pipe the boiler. I can’t imagine how much thermal expansion is occurring between the two risers.

[@kevinh6098]

close down the valve to the auto fill to a to a trickle when feeding , that should help prevent over filling. add some 8-way and antisurge to the system . replace the autovent. if the steam mains aren't already insulated recommend it

[@greendryerlint]

Jeez, that house and those dogs sounded like a horror movie.. Is it just me or does it seem weird to have a fish tank in the basement? Seemed like a nice lady.

[@kellyspeppers]

She is wonderful, cleaning the cobwebs. I am with you on this simple design of the boiler, new stuff too complex.

[@thehvachacker]

Plus new stuff isn’t built to last. Old steam boilers can last 50 years. I disliked when I did install remove boilers from the early 1900’s. Gotta break them apart in sections due to the weight of the cast iron sections almost as tall as me.

[@kellyspeppers]

@@thehvachacker My dad's store had a hot water gravity heating system, installed in the late 1800s. That one was all cast iron around 5 foot tall and coal fired but converted to oil in the early 50s. That system provided very good heat for his store. Nothing automatic, had to pump water up to an overhead tank with a sight tube.

[@robertosevillano8975]

This is the same issue I’m having in my steam boiler with the water constantly increasing and me having to drain water out every couple of days. I don’t have an auto feeder so my guess is with the feeding valve. Thanks will have this checked out.

[@kevin7151]

I had the same problem Roberto. I had to replace the rubber washer inside the valve and it fixed the problem. Its been fine for the last 3-4 years now.

[@tyronewoutersz6499]

Hi I have the hammering problem from one heat radiator I beleave steam flash out from the release also water when the boiler start what should I do thanks Tyrone

[@johnkrim8377]

The ring behind the sight glass rubber is a ring to stop the nut from tearing the rubber up when you tighten it up , it's not ferrule as you called it. Why didn't you open and clean out the strainer on the bottom of the auto feed valve, it might just be dirt stuck under the seat?👷🏻

[@michaelkonopski7745]

Did anyone pick up the copper header on a steam boiler. That's a nono.

[@tinknock406]

Not only did they use copper for the piping but orientation is also off. That's what they call a colliding header.

[@VooDooV6]

Crazy

[@VooDooV6]

Lady the more I have to explain everything...the more the price goes up...but hey I work hourly so keep asking questions..lol

[@TechnicalLee]

Did you test the low water cutoff to make sure it's shutting off the feeder on time? That slow drip doesn't seem like enough to overfill the boiler that much.

[@thehvachacker]

That slow drip is notorious for over filling boilers. Usually it’s the manual ball valve that gets the drip by. Overfilling due to a drip by is common on steam systems.

[@momo-oq5vq]

@@thehvachacker i had a similar problem today where my bpuler overfilled all the way to tje radiators amd banging and akr vent leak. i jad to drain the boiler but dnt know why this happend becuase i have a auto water feeder. I also have a baseboard water heat in my basement with a taco sr501 switcj relay installed to turn circulator pump on when boiler cmes on.

[@jeffsmith2022]

How often should you drain your boiler, heating season only?, given the fact that the 'make up' water is oxygenated and kills your boiler?, find this rather confusing...

[@jirarutanderson494]

Great work as always! We have an issue with water hammer in our steam pipes and radiators. The boiler is not overfilled and we have drained it a couple times but nothing helps. Are you providing the service in Hudson county, NJ?

[@gidzey4783]

You need to put shims under your radiators so they pitch towards the boiler. The banging is steam hitting cold water trapped in the radiator

[@stefaniegorga7605]

Or your pipes don't have any insulation on them. Maybe somebody removed them recently? I do work in NY and NJ

[@theoldbigmoose]

Very primitive... but as you said Very Reliable!

[@thehvachacker]

These boilers don’t have many components that can fail. Especially this old steamer. The auto feed that failed I put in 20 years ago. That’s the life of most furnaces.

[@Jessedog11]

the header is pipped wrong for starters

[@momo-oq5vq]

@The HVAC Hacker i had a similar problem today where my bpuler overfilled all the way to tje radiators amd banging and akr vent leak. i jad to drain the boiler but dnt know why this happend becuase i have a auto water feeder. I also have a baseboard water heat in my basement with a taco sr501 switcj relay installed to turn circulator pump on when boiler cmes on. after i drained the boiler it seems the wayer feeder automatically filled it up again. dont know why it overfilled

[@thehvachacker]

If it is overfilling you have a few possibilities. Leak by on the auto feed, leak by on the manual feed which is the most common reason for an overfilled boiler, a plugged return. You would lose water while running when boiler is properly filled and condensation won’t return to boiler. If you can solder cut pipe under the manual ball valve and when shut and a steady slow drip occurres then u know which valve. I always install unions where I cut to check. I wrenching is less work than soldering.

[@keithwintz1305]

I got a question whenever my steam boiler kicks on there’s a lot of banging and knocking sounds coming from all the pipes that runs to the radiator what can cause those type of noise

[@thehvachacker]

Usually too much water in the boiler. Water should be 1/2 to 3/4 full in sight glass. Steam doesn’t move through water easily. Which causes water hammering. Are the radiators all properly pitched? The side with air vent needs to be higher than where the supply pipe connection side. This way water can return to boiler correctly. When the steam cools down in radiator it condenses back to water and needs to return to boiler. If any pipes have sagged and are not pitched correctly also causes problems. The system should be serviced once a year by someone who knows steam heat. Maintenance on a steam boiler takes 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours. Start with the water level. You should drain the boiler every week or two. To remove all the gunk and sediment from the boiler. I have many videos with steam boilers, some with banging hammering noises.

[@throttlebottle5906]

6:15 I hate those garden hose ball valves, if you look into the threaded end when it's off and open, you'll see there's lucky to be a 1/4" through hole. I would never use them on anything that was under 20psi+ clean water only. most all of the hose-bibs are the same way, best to avoid them on steam boiler drains all together!

[@raindogs451]

Whoever put in this boiler should be brought up on charges. That's outrageous.

[@thehvachacker]

Yes the near boiler piping is wrong. Yet the customer hasn’t had any issues to justify changing it. Until it’s time to change the boiler. The boiler has been there since the late 70’s pipe this way

[@raindogs451]

@@thehvachacker What's the statute of limitations on that. lololo

[@miggymig860]

So I thought I had the same problem but its not. Soon as my thermostat turns off theres a super loud bang. I've change the heads on the zone valve and still a loud bang.

[@robertwhite4919]

Check the direction on the valve body

[@dwconfer]

Was the probe ok?

[@petersmart1999]

I get that the near boiler piping may not be 100% correct,as far as the header and hartford loop are set up,but for some crazy reason it has,worked for 30 years!

[@pb7379-j2k]

Not 100% right? Try 100% wrong

[@petersmart1999]

Not my point,I have seen 100 hp boilers that have piping issues, but miraculously they run! I have seen alot of things defy the laws of engineering and actually work for years before being corrected,thats all.Watch some of these other videos,have you never seen some of the youtubers,say this furnace is way oversized,that's why it now has a cracked heat exchanger,but they fail to say that it is 28 years old,and that very crack is why it will not light.My grasp is if the header is wrong,why has it been like that for years,steam will usually have major issues in short time,not the long term!

[@pb7379-j2k]

@@petersmart1999 gotcha. Steam can be very forgiving!

[@s.o.s.exploration2412]

Old lady is Def because she can't pipe them dogs down. Nothing wrong with being weary of strangers but no matter what the case is those dogs aren't helping her with any hearing she may have left.

[@thatbrandenkid]

forreal lol

[@320ceman]

Should clean the water probe while cleaning boiler , especially on a call for over filling

[@thehvachacker]

Yes the probe is clean. I was here 2 months earlier for a vent in kitchen leaking. Couldn’t clean the glass easily why I just replaced here. The LWCO has the self cleaning probe. I did check on the probe then and the brush piece at the end of probe was still intact and keeping shaft clean. This customer doesn’t ever drain this boiler. I put scout in this boiler the previous trip. Could be why it plugged back up within 2 months.

[@320ceman]

I'm curios to watch the water surging while running caused by piping issues

[@thehvachacker]

It doesn’t surge. If surging was a problem I could sell a repipe job. Here is little vid from previous trip kzbin.info/aero/PLQfJkv9vP36EZMXAhBTPEG9OETk3cxrYz

[@royamberg9177]

Needs a pint of green water treatment. It will stay clean

[@sugahcookie8827]

We had a steam boiler put in the end of December and the last week. We had so much banging through the night they have came out at least six times. First they said it was the return pipe so it was replaced oh, that did not fix the problem. The sight glass stays unclear and they put treatment and it. When they opened the steam boiler all you saw was black Tire everywhere rusted pipes oh, and it supposed to be new. We have been having trouble sleeping for over a month. We live in Buffalo New York we're unfortunately we just had a storm and a deadly blizzard. Help!

[@tinknock406]

Just curious. Have you had your problem taken care of?

[@sugahcookie8827]

@tinknock406 Unfortunately, the company installed it incorrectly. We ended up getting two separate service calls from other companies to find this out. We have a legal issue here as well and have contacted OTDA that funds the Furnace and Replacement program in our county. It's been a nightmare.

[@tinknock406]

@@sugahcookie8827 Not sure if you're receiving my replies. This is a great tutorial by Dan Holohan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3zYpZmog9eghKc

[@thehvachacker]

What did they do wrong on the install? Banging or hammering is not good at the boiler sounds like steam is trying to push through water.

[@sugahcookie8827]

@thehvachacker Let's start with the wrong size pipes used, per the manual. They used the wrong valve, I think it said a ball valve instead of a gate. The drain pipe shouldn't be obstructed, and lastly, they pitched it wrong.

[@imaguglielmo]

Where do you get that tool to cut the glass? Can't find it online.

[@davidnull5590]

Google glass tubing cutter There are several, mostly $6 to $12

[@imaguglielmo]

@@davidnull5590 i see some. Different style than the one you got.

[@thehvachacker]

Universal Supply and Johnstone it is also listed on supply house.com

[@stevebbkny2394]

R u serious????

[@jeffsmith2022]

Too labor intensive to clean the glass tube? really?...a I posted yesterday a pencil with a bit on wet paper towel and some Dawn and you are in business...

[@thehvachacker]

I clean them all the time. Yet this one I spent 25 minutes using simple green a brush and scrapping with the site glass protectors. Usually all I need is sight glass protectors and no soap. This glass hasn’t been cleaned in over 5+ years. When I waste that much time cleaning a glass it’s not worth it. I use to just slide a rolled up paper towel through and it would clean. When a glass doesn’t get cleaned for years they also break easy

[@biker55555]

that copper near boiler piping is installed incorrectly.

[@thehvachacker]

Nothing I can do about something someone installed 30+ years ago. Owner won’t pay for me to repipe. If I ever have to replace it will get piped better. Besides it all copper. What do you not like

[@pb7379-j2k]

@@thehvachacker the two steam supplies come into a tee causing water to pile up and carry up to the main. Compare to any installation manual, not even close

[@bugattivi7110]

Holy shit a copper header on steam

[@pb7379-j2k]

All too common unfortunately

[@bugattivi7110]

@@pb7379-j2k fucking savages my Brother savages I tell you 🤦‍♂️

[@bugattivi7110]

@@pb7379-j2k FYI your page your content amazing amazing keep them coming

[@josephzzapata1280]

Can the lady stay in her place? It’s like the dogs were still following you down to the basement.. barking still!!

[@quertize]

Is this re-upload?

[@thehvachacker]

No it’s the full call where I stole the clip out of to replace the sight glass. Yet I replaced an air vent in kitchen back in November.

[@jamesscott6661]

Nice

[@joshuabest100]

Aww shes cute such a heartwarming woman

[@thehvachacker]

Yes she always been really nice. I use to party a lot with her son in my late teens and early 20’s.

[@Wolfhound.]

i call those plier wrench

[@thehvachacker]

Me too, best adjustable wrench available

[@Tigerhawk1981]

69th :P glad your getting work with what's been going on

[@320ceman]

Header is a incorrect ,No 24inch ,copper ,equalizer isn't correct

[@richarddelaney9593]

Should that have a swing built in to that double header and it shouldn't be copper should it. It also has to be a certain height above the water line too, no.

[@some24k]

Wtf do they own a demon

[@thehvachacker]

What you mean by demon? Because it looks like it breaths fire? Very open ended statement that can have my mind being very creative in wondering the meaning.

[@marriagepartnersministry5942]

That boiler piping is all wrong.

[@thehvachacker]

Yes, but the piping has nothing to do with the problems on this service call.

[@320ceman]

@@thehvachacker Gotta start with the piping or what your doing is a band-aid

[@VamooseRooter]

What is that noise? Is it a demon? 0:20

[@MrThatnativeguy]

Demon hell spawn

[@edjovi3677]

bill am first lol edbonjovi leak master plumbing

[@thehvachacker]

I picked a good time to publish this.

[@ross1116]

I change the glass every time its .89 cents

[@spinozany]

Where do you find them for 89¢ ?

[@Rainmaker88]

Near boiler piping is awful.

[@medicalnegligence]

Yep, it looks exactly like mine that was installed by a seasoned “master” plumber. Paradoxically, plumbers are very quick to mock “homeowner Joe” attempts at fixes.

[@thehvachacker]

I didn’t install this boiler. It was installed 30+ years ago. Can’t sell a job to troupe a boiler that’s been working for years pipes this way. You hear response on mabey the air vent was bad.

[@Rainmaker88]

Not saying you installed it or to quote to repipe just saying that’s horribly piped.

[@wd8557]

@@Rainmaker88 25,55 mark, listen to what he says about the ball valve leaking. He said it was a bad solder joint HE did 20 years ago. He did that whole job trust me.

[@thehvachacker]

Solder joint I didn’t do bad solder 20 years ago. It was sealed 20 years until, I put too much pressure on it. spreading open the union to see if auto feed leaked by. “Common man” am I in my mid 50’s to 60’ to have installed this boiler.

[@throttlebottle5906]

I wouldn't pour that boiler water into anything in the house for fear of staining or cracking it (hot water and cold porcelain no mix) woods, ditch, storm drain, sewer cleanout in yard etc = yes

[@atlasfueloilinc.2421]

With that thought you would think homeowners would have a hose connected to the drain and ready for use. But in the real world of home services we do the best with what we have to work with.

[@user-xn4cy8js7c]

Time for a new glass SCORING tool...add some colored zip ties to the sight glass. Red for LWCO, yellow for hot and running level, and green for cold fill level. Just a glass with no indicators doesn't help anyone except YOU! Boilers flames DO "flare out". I've seen flame come out several inches on a furnace when the burners were clogged with rust. Should be NO wires near the combustion area.

[@pony053]

Copper header, no header drip......glad I'm about to retire, you see too much

[@thehvachacker]

To think this boilers been running like this 30+ years. When I get to replace all that copper will be cast iron and the piping corrected. If customer hasn’t had any problems with how it heats, hard to sell them on correcting the header

[@pony053]

@@thehvachacker I'm with ya! It works

[@hectortorres542]

Very. Bad installation.I don't even think there's a Hartford loop. Copper really.

[@sparky3869]

The boiler is piped wrong. OMG abortion

[@wd8557]

25.31 he says he might have a leak, from a solder joint he did 20 years ago, which leaves me to believe he this this whole job.

[@thehvachacker]

No the boiler is 30+ years old. I only been working hvac since 1998. I added the auto feed loop only. Everything else is as old as the boiler. The leaky solder joint is an easy fix Rub flux over outside and heat touch up with a little new solder if I want. Hasn’t any time for minerals to get in and not allow the solder to just reflow around the fitting.

[@sparky3869]

The number one problem is the piping. Should of told her, if you knew what you were doing.

[@thehvachacker]

Can’t sell new pipes on a 30+ year boiler. When the boiler gets replaced yes the piping gets redone in steel and anything needs addressing will. Yet this boiler probably will last another 20 years

[@irfp460]

@@thehvachacker Why would you go steel on a new install? That seems like a lot of hassle at the copper to steel interface...

[@sparky3869]

You do not have a clue. You should stay away from steam boilers

[@thehvachacker]

I didn’t pipe the boiler. Can’t sell new pipes on old boiler. Piping gets corrected in 20 years when replaced

[@ignacio8597]

This guy talks shit on multiple channels. Fuck em

[@unknown509]

BIDEN/HARRIS 2020 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@danielwilliams3978]

Guess you got what you wanted, dummy supporting another dummy. Great Job ! F.J.B. Let’s see how much you support him while he is draining your Bank Account.

[@timfife2128]

Copper header ?

[@VooDooV6]

Not in the midwest...really copper!!!