Steam Boiler Sight Glass Installation

Humans have been making steam on an industrial scale for over 300 years.
Very early on, they learned to take care of the sight glass to make sure the water level in the boiler was just right...not too low...not too high.

[@fsaget]

well done

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Thanks!

[@petergriffin1546]

Great video. Your videos have saved me lots of headaches. I owe you many cups of coffee......of course my oil burner door on my osb-3 boiler is in the way for a nice blow down... i dont think a 45 will still work.

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Thank you for your kind works! For the drain valve, a 1/4" brass street 90 might work.

[@elgordo271]

A clean sightglass is a thing of beauty. It is the window into the soul of the boiler!

[@elgordo271]

I first became aware of the fakery of the "brass" friction rings over 10 years ago. I called Combraco Valves, the largest maker of sight glass fittings here in the States, and inquired of their technical service as to why the "brass" friction rings were, in fact, steel. The person at Combraco insisted I was mistaken, that the rings were indeed pure brass. I invited the fellow to grab a set of gauge glass fittings and a magnet to test for himself while I waited (at 10 cents a minute). To his credit, he did so. This was his reply: "Hey, you're right! They ARE steel. How about that! How did that happen?" How indeed. I leave it to you, dear gentle KZbinr, to answer that for yourself.

[@danhoulihan6168]

Glad to see this video as I've been wanting to add a drain like this to my sight glass to keep it clean without disassembly. I've got the bar stock 45 degree elbow but have not been able to locate that exact drain valve. Is it an unusual configuration? What precisely should I be looking for? I have a substitute but I like that one you've got in the video.

[@elgordo271]

That valve indeed is a very hard one to track down. It is almost always a special order item at local supply houses. Try the "inside sales" staff, look for the fella who is about to retire. You will make his day. The guys at the counter won't usually know where to start and don't have the time to mess with you. It is a 1/4" MIP (male iron pipe) by 3/4" Male Hose ball valve. Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

[@danhoulihan6168]

I found a suitable version of this online and had one shipped and it's a great casting and seems like a beefy valve excepting the plastic handle feels like it's about to fall off. I'll find a supply house somewhere soon and get a proper one, hopefully before that guy actually retires :) Prior to adding the drain to the sight glass I did remove the glass for a thorough cleaning and detected two large deposits of chinesium which will also be replaced soon. So nice to have a clean glass and a proper blowdown on that thing, Thanks for sharing!

[@elgordo271]

Thank you for the feed-back! I think I've used a few those plastic handle valves you're talking about. Red plastic, thin and cheap-feeling (the handle, not the valve body), yes? Don't have too many of them out there to give meaningful results on longevity, sorry. The metal handle ones are usually powder-coated die-cast zinc/aluminum alloy (with the exception of the Dahl valve brand). They last well enough, unless the handles get wet for awhile. Then they crumble.

[@danhoulihan6168]

On the first one I found the boss that the plastic handle mounts onto plays quite a bit inside the housing. I thought it was just the plastic portion loose and I was just going to shim or pack it, but when apart the actual mount was kind of floating around in there more than it should. I have my eye on a Dahl 521-61-04 and if they can't/won't get it for me I'll live with the cheesy one I have for now.

[@dong7598]

He has a lot of nuanced knowledge, he schooled me the whole vid.

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Very kind of you to say. Thank you!

[@joeyyc8515]

I thought the same, can tell you're a successful plumber

[@johnnyadames3398]

Great explanation 👌 guy knows his stuff. I learned something new today 🙏

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Glad it was helpful!

[@baraclude]

Gordon, I want to have the same sight glass drain set up using my Dahl 1/4 MIP x Male. Would that fitting of yours match with my sightglass and the Dahl 1/4? If yes, what's the size of that fitting or where can I buy that?

[@gordonschweizer5154]

I think on this boiler you can use a 1/4 brass "street" 45. For an SGO, you need a 1/4 brass "street" 90. Try SupplyHouseDOTcom.

[@Peter-976]

Pretty slick idea , modifying that socket to fit on the drain valve. What did you use, a cutoff wheel?

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Thank you! Yes, a cut off wheel and a die grinder.

[@richconstantino8485]

I know this is old and not sure if you'll see this, but your videos are great and I learned a lot from them. I am 50 and I grew up with a steam oil fire boiler, we even had a old pancake steam boiler wrapped in asbestos that was converted to oil from coal. Nothing bets the sound and smell of a steam radiator on a cold November morning. LOL I just replaced my 40 something year old Weil McLain (funny when the boiler is older then the service man)in my own house with a WGO Gold. I watched your video on the Hartford loop. Old one didn't have it. I want to do the sight glass flush. Was just wonder is the threads the same then the one on this video? Thanks. Rich C

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Thanks for your comments! There is a very good chance the threads should be the same.

[@medicalnegligence]

Difficult to see but is the the friction washer placed in between the rubber bushing and the housing base or in between the bushing where the glass exits the housing? Thank you for posting some very informative and educational videos.

[@elgordo271]

Thanks for your question! The friction washer should be placed "between the (rubber) bushing where the glass exits the housing". Check starting at about 1:35.

[@echokiloecho]

Hi Gordon, Wherr can I find the valve you installed in this video.. it looks like a one piece 1/4npt to male hose?

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Dahl valves makes one that should work. Or did. They are harder and harder to find.

[@echokiloecho]

@@gordonschweizer5154 Thank you Gordon.

[@followtheglow]

The sight glass keeps filling to the top and I have to constantly let water out.

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Sorry you are having problems. Do you have more details?

[@frankcaferra486]

@@gordonschweizer5154 I have the same problem

[@gordonschweizer5154]

@@frankcaferra486 Do you have an automatic fill valve?

[@frankcaferra486]

@@gordonschweizer5154 no

[@gordonschweizer5154]

@@frankcaferra486 Tankless coil?

[@robertmarquez2256]

Hello fellow KZbinr's can anyone drop a link on a isolation valve replacement video? For steam boilers? Thanks a bunch!