Steam Boiler Overfilling and Sludged Up Drain

I return to my mom’s house to find the sight glass over filled. I find out water is leaking through water shut off ball valve. I also want to upgrade the drain and find it all slugged up. Therefore I correct the valve leak by and upgrade the drain so it drains bottom of boiler better

[@throttlebottle5906]

when pulling copper apart for reuse, I keep worn fitting brushes and use them to "knock" the hot solder out of fittings and off pipe ends, a dry rag folded up and brushed/wiped quickly on the hot pipe end easily takes the solder off too. just keep reheating it with torch again until it cleaned. it's usually clean enough to slide right on, after normal brush/sanding cloth cleaning then. I used to hate reworking copper, now I make it look too easy and often beat someone playing with threaded stuff lol.

[@thehvachacker]

I find even if the old solder globbed up and won’t let the pipe slide back on hit it with a torch and it will slide into place. Wiping it after pulling apart does smooth it out.

[@JuanHernandez-rx1rs]

@thehvachacker I just wanted to thank you for your video. You have no idea how much it has helped me with the boiler I have at one of the the properties I have 😮‍💨 I was about to give up but after I found your video everything works just fine. God bless you and bless the work of your hands. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@MichaelAnderson-py1ej]

Honestly good maintenance. Very thorough cleaning

[@RayRay-nb7tn]

Nice claening and replacement. Automattic water feeders always seem to jam up and leak. Nice video Hacker be good kid. HVAC ON!!!!

[@thehvachacker]

It was also the manual auto feed ball valve that had a leak by. Even though wd40 seemed to fix the automatic water feed I am looking for a body or just replace the whole auto feed. This system is not starting cost me some money yet worth all the time and money I dump into this system.

[@Ivansgarage]

I truly believe, all life would come to an end, without Channel-Lock type pliers ...lol

[@thehvachacker]

My crescent style adjustable are just rusting away since I started using the channel-lock style pliers wrench.

[@Cragified]

@@thehvachacker Knipex are awesome aren't they. Have replaced all my pliers, adjustable wrenches, and channel locks. Only think they can't really replace are a good set of vice grips.

[@thehvachacker]

I still use channel locks yet more when I am torching brazed fittings apart. My knuckles feel safer using the knipex cobras

[@nxtchpforme9154]

Great when you have family who can do this kind of work!!

[@320ceman]

You also need to talk more about the hartford loop

[@oldtimehomestead1554]

Nice job.

[@thehvachacker]

Thanks, I like donating my time and money for parts to mom cause this took me a few hours. Don't want to know what she would have paid for this. Plus she is a great babysitter and I guess that was payback she took care of my daughter today so I could run errands.

[@larrykeenan598]

Don't feel bad about applying the teflon tape the wrong way. I'm left handed and had to teach myself not to twist wires the wrong way when I got into electrical apprenticeship. I would twist wires counter clockwise and then screw wirenuts on clockwise. Finally figured out I was just untwisting the wires and loosening the connection. After I bought a pair of left handed side cutters, twisting wires the right way was no longer a problem. LOL

[@thehvachacker]

I don't feel bad cause if I notice it unwrap I take apart and correct. Usually, I let the wire nuts twist the wires yet I have done that or curl a wire the wrong direction as you tighten down a switch screw to have it push the wire out. Its how we all learn at least for most of us.

[@Robbievigil]

I need left handed everything.

[@throttlebottle5906]

I've started using compression fitting valves vs. draining down the whole plumbing system and fighting water trickling and having to blow/vacuum it out. turn water off, relieve pressure, hang a bucket so it hits it, sand/cut pipe, jam valve on, dope the ferrule and threads, no leaks, compresses easier and wont corrode together or seize, keep identical new/spare valves there, since they'll have the same compression ends and you just swap the valve body itself, make sure you have plenty spares! alternate to that, threaded valves/adapters and unions. I clearly don't do it that way for "kosher" looks, it's all about future serviceability and speed of repair.

[@thehvachacker]

I used compression water fittings and there as good as sweat fittings.

[@nxtchpforme9154]

I need a tech who was as skilled, knowledgeable and diligence to find the issues.

[@thehvachacker]

I treat every system I work on as if I own it.

[@Mercmad]

That looks similar to the steam generators my Late father had in his bakeries . They all were fed through a injector which supplied water softener to help prevent the mud build up you have there . They would often eat through inside of the heating core because of the build ups of Iron and lime. We also installed simple charcoal filters to keep them clean which worked really well, as long as someone remembers to clean them out every 6 months or so. Regarding Copper pipes. I am sure that only relates to Steam instalations where large volumes of steam are used,such as laundrys and food manufacture. One thing I know never to use is stainless steel . it cracks really easily when used on steam lines.

[@thehvachacker]

This is the steam boiler that provides heat for my mom. I am hoping the new drain set up will help flush out he iron and lime buildup. All the gunk was as low as the old drain fitting would allow me to bring the water down to. I will add a boiler treatment to help break that stuff up a little more. Yes stainless isn’t a good metal for steam. I have seen many boilers with copper even though many swear it’s a big no no

[@Eddy63]

Good fix Hackster ... Any mom would be proud of you ... Lol ...We gotta take care of our Mom's ...

[@thehvachacker]

We do every time I stop over there is a revolving punch list. Then I create my own headaches there like the boiler

[@elioselectric468]

Nothing better than working on a Burnham

[@andylaw2503]

Begins to think about u might have a call back from mom later because of a leak~~the way u apply the Teflon tape should be clockwise along the thread or the same way u turn in the component@16:15. Thanks to ur video anyway, ur job is clean and tide and it's a pleasure to watch it!

[@thehvachacker]

I had other problems with radiators not boiler. I still have to get over there and service that boiler soon.

[@danielwilliams3978]

Mikey, put some pipe dope on the areas that you do not want the solder to flow to. Works every time. Nice job putting the Union on there for next time you do the cleaning. Good job.

[@memadmax69]

The things we do for mom =)

[@thehvachacker]

Always I was coming back to clean sight glass and pigtail I also wanted to put a better drain. Can't drain the bottom of the boiler with the old set up. No matter how many times I use to flush it I could never get it clean. Well, now I will just need to go back with a new auto feed and boiler treatment. Even though it stopped leaking its not too cold so I have some downtime. Even though I should fix my cars first yet.........

[@nxtchpforme9154]

Just had a burnham independent with a hole in the top. Steam escaping in the boiler.....12 years installed new!! Heard banging noise can crack radiators.

[@thehvachacker]

Banging noise won’t crack the radiators yet hammering from overfilled boiler which will have severe hammering noises can crack boiler’s cast iron block. It’s rare to see a radiator crack. Sorry to hear you had problems with your boiler, 12 years isn’t that old for a steam boiler. How did you catch the leak? Did you have steam coming out of your chimney?

[@JuanTodoli]

Good fight against the leaks.

[@thehvachacker]

I still have to pick up a new auto feed and put a treatment into that boiler.

[@brianperkins6121]

at 16 min 14 seconds watch teflon tape wrap direction , yes done the same thing myself so no ones perfect..

[@bobwills4420]

The overuse of Teflon tape concerns me. With steam you don’t want pipes loosening. That much tape is bound to lead to eventual loose fitting in the heat-cool cycle. Why use a power tool to clean copper. Rotating wire brush is not safe. Emory cloth is much better. I could go on but I want to mention it’s a good video.

[@afjrotc20041]

Love watching these in a Sunday. First. Woo

[@thehvachacker]

I posted this first onto my facebook group 2 hours before here

[@bruce8572]

I noticed that you were going the wrong way wramping the threads.Good job on the maintenance.

[@greekmaster1001]

And you wrapped the Teflon tape backwards on the threads for water feeder

[@thehvachacker]

It’s ok it doesn’t leak or I would hear about it from my mom

[@jordanzhou4915]

Thanks for posting the video. Real pro, great job!

[@thehvachacker]

Thanks I enjoy sharing my adventures

[@PepsiManX360]

I just got a beautiful New Yorker installed and it runs like a champ. My old 50 year old boiler had to be set to 90°F to heat the house. I also installed a Nest Thermostat to help.

[@thehvachacker]

Have you got constant power always to the heat. On a lot of steam boilers the low water cut off cuts the 24 volt power to the nest. It was an issue I was running into a couple years ago with the hydrolevel 400 LWCO it does a self test every 10 minutes when boilers running.

[@PepsiManX360]

The HVAC Hacker I have the emergency switch on all the time, but the burner only comes on when I turn it on. I bought an AC adapter to act as the Common wire and connected it like this: one end to C and the other to RC. Because my house is 104 years old so we used the old wires... it’s works perfect fine and only turns on when actually turned on via the app or thermostat.

[@axlerodthegreatbauman6763]

ADKIc3mAnXYT I had to install a isolation relay for the nest install. Everytime it went to a low water situation the nest would lose power. I took r and c from the transformer and hooked to the thermostat power then used W to power the normally open relay. Then I put the t and t across the relay. What a pain sometimes

[@Ivansgarage]

OMG a call-back from mom, not good ... Looks like lunch at McDonalds again..

[@thehvachacker]

She wouldn’t say anything about having to drain a little water. I was coming back to finish the maintenace I started on Christmas. I wanted to replace that drain and figured this was a good time, happy I did with what I found when I opened it up.

[@ML-lg4ky]

Wow who knew that much muck builds up in steam boilers. Excellent work! I wish the camera was set up on something stable, not POV

[@thehvachacker]

Yea I have a short 1-minute video on my facebook page of having to pop a steam drain, plus a big steam boiler all plugged up with mud. Many owners of these boilers neglect them. It could be one of the most efficient forms of heat if taken care of and properly maintained.

[@stevecoscia123]

Shouldnt you Use adjustables or proper wrencch instead of chanel locks?

[@johnway8702]

His yellow pliers are like channel locks with serrated jaws, the red ones are smooth jaw knipex style pliers - probably better than an adjustable wrench.

[@rcpasc1948]

Appears the extra expense of adding a debris "T" like as done before a furnace gas valve is justified to catch that mud.

[@thehvachacker]

Actually, the debris is expected. I was changing the drain set up beside cleaning sight glass and pigtail for pressure troll. A steam boiler is supposed to be drained weekly to remove the debris. The problem with the old drain set up was I couldn't drain to the bottom of the boiler. I even stopped by today when dropping off my daughter and flushed it down again. A steam boiler is the best form of heat yet extremely high maintenance. Yet if i built a new home I would do a steam boiler with radiators and hot water boiler for radiant floor heat in bathrooms, garage, and kitchen. A heated floor in my shop is a dream when I have to work on my car on a cold day. It might not become reality but good to dream like the snow melt system.

[@tonysova4687]

If you're boiler is silent not percolating cleaner is not needed what is needed is more visits once a week and drain it down during a heat cycle always good to check the safety nice that u increased the drain and used a ball valve maybe u could show a friend or neighbor how

[@prjndigo]

Nice job flinging metal bits into the valve controller.

[@thehvachacker]

It’s all good I own this boiler so anything goes wrong with it comes out of my pocket. This is my moms boiler. Can’t let mom pay for anything. Family gets free parts and labor out of me. Yet where did I put metal bits into the valve controller?

[@nja3224]

3 times in about 10 days I found my boiler was overfilled by 3 to 8 gallons. I have a one pipe steam heat system, manual feed. The low water cutoff engaged, so my daughter filled it to the line next to the sight glass. A day later, maybe two, I heard some water banging, went to check the boiler, and noticed it was overfilled. I drained enough out to see the mark at the water level. A few days later, again I heard banging, same thing. I’m fairly certain the feed valve is fine. If it’s not the feed, what else could it be? Is it possible there’s an intermittent clog in the return that breaks free every so often? I’m at a loss.

[@thehvachacker]

If your boiler return is plugged you would run out of water when heating. The heat goes up as steam and needs to return as condensation back to boiler. Once you have steam pressure are all your returns hot? The only way water gets into the boiler is the through the feed valve. Have you cut the pipe or opened the pipe below the manual valve to verify it’s not leaking? The drip can be one drip every minute or two. Over a day or two the boiler will be overfilled. The hammering is from steam trying to push through the water. I would recommend sweating a 1/2” copper union after you check the valve. If you don’t solder they sell compression fittings. I recommend not using sharkbite slide on fittings.

[@nja3224]

@@thehvachacker - Appreciate the response, thank you. When I drained water, I also drained from the return just to see if maybe that was clogged, but it wasn’t, and it was hot. I guess the only logical answer is the feed valve. I want to make sure i ruled out everything else before I tackle that, and it sounds like I did, so thanks again.

[@goptasingh4432]

Great job bro

[@snowaIker]

Really good job. Where are you situated? Wish we could find a plumber like you.

[@JJ-Toreddie]

I love boilers. Big or small. Steam or hot water. Don't matter

[@thehvachacker]

Me too why you see a lot of boiler videos

[@jamesgillies3710]

Boilers rule!

[@320ceman]

Lubricant isn't something you should get in boiler , causes surging , skim off

[@scapmans1079]

The gas line needs a 6” drip tube to catch condensation to keep it from getting into the burners. Remove the plug and extend with a drip tube, cap the tube and your good to go

[@thehvachacker]

Doesn't need to be 6” yet I always consider replacing the plug with a drip leg. Yet always too much work I need to do. Plus this is a job I pay for all material and volunteer my time. After 20+ years the burners are immaculate

[@stevieg4201]

Most states are 3”, and they aren’t as important now as they were years ago, the property’s of not only Nat gas, but LPG as well has changed a lot and the drip isn’t as necessary as it was in years past.

[@scapmans1079]

TX good to know the code in my state is 3”.

[@jenraider72]

I have an old gas furnace for steam heat similar to the one in the video and it seems to be a pain every season. My brother moved in a few years after my husband passed and mostly deals with it, except for a few times where I hired a pro. We just tried to start it up for winter but when he opens the ball valve to drain the brown water, now nothing is coming out. I went to look at it today and saw water dripping from a valve at the top of the very dirty looking sight glass. I looked and saw that the pilot is lit and for now the thermostat upstairs is still set to off. I briefly opened the valve that lets in fresh water just to see that it was ok and it seemed fine. Have you any advice as to how I might get this unit to drain and also suggestions as to what the problem may be? I am going to either clean that sight glass tube or replace it first, as I do have spares on hand that my husband already cut to size and I'm also thinking that the water leaking may be from a washer that I need to replace as well, but I doubt I have the correct ones on hand. So sorry for these questions but I'm pretty worried now about making an unfixable mistake and ironically I'm generally quite good with other household maintenance/DIY type of jobs but this is beyond my confidence. Thank you for your time and help... Jennifer

[@billheilmann3063]

Non-pro comment: It sounds like it could be one of two things. The drain valve could be jammed shut/blocked up or the unit might be extremely low on water. Is there water in the sight glass at the proper level? If so, it's probably not the water level. If the water level is fine, you might want to turn on the thermostat and let the unit run a bit and try to drain it again after it's been on for a bit. If still nothing happens, you might need to have a pro replace/clean the valve if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

[@goptasingh4432]

I wonder how much this cleaning and flush will cost me in nyc .

[@thehvachacker]

NYC prices are higher than Bergen County NJ. NJ annual maintenance on boilers usually starts near $220 and up depending on company doing service. It takes 1.5 hours minimum to service a steam boiler.

[@watermanone7567]

Good fix, but I think you wrapped the Teflon tape on in the wrong direction. Hard to see it but thanks for the video.

[@thehvachacker]

I did wrap the Teflon backward. This is my mom's house so if it leaks I will be repairing it.

[@jamie91433]

Hi. I have a steam boiler that is shutting the high limit switch off every couple minutes or so, it fills up with water on the site glass. We can figure out why the water fluctuates and fills up above the water line .

[@thehvachacker]

Could be a number of things, high limit? Is it shutting off on pressure? Or is the low water cut off shutting down the boiler then auto feed adds water?

[@jim8230]

The people telling you how to do your job from the comfort of their cozy living rooms...every video. WTF?

[@thehvachacker]

It is ok I have gotten used to it. I will just keep enjoying what I do and make the videos for those who enjoy

[@shadowbanned69]

Ahhh ...the GOOD SON has returned...proud of ya bill...moms will be happy...great job as always....damn the hot water valve...always happens to ya at the end....next time.......lol Question: would putting vinegar in the boiler break up sediment and scale??? I've used it in tankless water heaters for scale build up and rust removal on tools n stuff...but would it damage the boiler casing?

[@thehvachacker]

I think I said next time with that valve at least 4 or 5 times. Hahaaa. I only used vinegar once to descale a tankless. It works yet my company wants us to use the ice machine cleaner mix with some water in a 5-gallon pail turn the pump I put into the pail on and let it flow through the machine. Yet that is stainless and doesn't get to dry or stay in the system long enough to become reactive since vinegar contains acetic acid which can de-rust yet also be used to quickly create rust. I use Stout from Hercules or EZ Steam. Put it to let the system operate 2 or 3 weeks depending on if it will run often or not. Then have the homeowner drain it. They should do a weekly draining of a steamer. Yet I could only dream they actually do it once a month.

[@williegillie5712]

How does that much sludge get into the boiler? City water?

[@thehvachacker]

This is 20 years of sludge build up. It was why I brought the 1-1/4 nipple ball valve and street 90 to make drain fittings. The old drain fitting wouldn't allow me to drain the system all the way down. most of the sludge was the height of the bottom of the drain. So yes a very small amount of this sludge is city water minerals. Then you have iron/ steel that is wet and dry over and over. This is what creates most of the sediment why it was hard. That is the reason a steam boiler should be completely drained every week to flush it out. I am going back with Stout steam boiler cleaner and new auto feed hopefully I get a chance sometime this week. This new drain fitting will allow me to drain down and clean the bottom of the boiler. I dumped the boiler again today when I dropped my daughter off for a few hours. Even though my mom tells me she drains this boiler. The slop sink next to the washing machine tells me a different story. Hard to keep a slop sink clean when hot rust sediment from a steam boiler get drained weekly into it.

[@sweetcaroline7679]

nice job !

[@thehvachacker]

Thanks

[@TheGhettoLobster]

I have the light you have but the problem is the battery sucks. Did you replace the battery with an aftermarket one?

[@thehvachacker]

I have not yet. Have you found a good aftermarket battery. You only get 2+ hours with this light on high, During the summer it was no big deal. Boiler jobs take time and eat up the battery. At least it operates plugged in.

[@nickbernardo6658]

Did you replace the drain valve? It looks like you did but I didn’t see it in the video. Does it simply screw off and on? Is it 3/4?

[@thehvachacker]

I don't believe anything except for an 1-1/4" ball valve with a street 45 or 90 to force water into bucket. This is the best way to flush out a boiler to get the gunk off the bottom

[@nickbernardo6658]

Thanks, was just wondering about the valve under the sight glass and if it’s able to be changed easily by screwing on/off, thanks!

[@jeffheriot]

I noticed the same thing. My drain is currently leaking and it needs to be replaced. Not sure how difficult the swap out is.

[@RagazzoMafioso]

Please raise your camera, so that your viewers can see what you are doing.

[@royamberg9177]

Some boiler treatment would help wonders

[@thehvachacker]

Yes, I forgot to bring it. I left at home. The drain fittings were all rusted so I cleaned them up using electrolysis and ran late to start this. I am bringing it with me when I go back with a new auto feed. Moms house I replace anything that could cause a problem. Don't always have time to get there when the weather gets crazy so very preventive with everything there.

[@enriquejimenez8322]

If my boiler keeps feeding water but the thermostat is off what can be ?

[@bamnjphoto]

I just had an issue with my steam boiler having issues because I didn't drain it and it was clogging up sensors and my steam pressure valve. The technician said he would suggest I drain it once a month to prevent those issues from occurring again.

[@thehvachacker]

You should drain it at least once a week. Once a month is better than never. It’s your investment to take care of how you like but will last longer if you flush it once a week. I have another video on here where I had to unplug a clogged steam boiler.

[@bamnjphoto]

@@thehvachacker Thanks for the reply, lapsed a whole 2 years draining it and paid the price one of the coldest days this winter. I will definitely take that once a week draining schedule during the winter months.

[@thehvachacker]

This boiler got really gunked up in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2eUiJemrLOVfMU

[@thomasbroking7943]

@@thehvachacker after all these years and how many boilers I installed, wonder why I always levelde them?? Wouldn't it make sense for service to pitch them slightly to the drain valve, then run the header off the low side?? It would pitch the mud & give a 1/2 " more room for steam.

[@thomasbroking7943]

I took black birds from inside the boiler. Ikk

[@mark33545]

This looks exactly like my EG40 except my near boiler pipes are steel. I want to do a flush on it in the spring, do you have a video of you flushing one of these out completely? Like a full flush service video?

[@thehvachacker]

I might have a vid of me flushing. Yet I think you want a video of me skimming a boiler. I have a full maintenance on a steam boiler video I need to find time to edit and upload. I flush yet don't skim. Skimming is rare once a boiler is up and running.

[@mark33545]

The HVAC Hacker no sorry i mean a flush video, i dont think i need a skim, my boiler isn’t surging or anything but its loaded with rusty gunk from my 1930s single steam system. I am interesting in how to flush these out though, get all that crap out of there. However, i am also somewhat paranoid that I’ve read that its the dissolved oxygen in the new water that rusts things more than anything else, ever since i read that i try to avoid doing my version of a “flush” opening up the ball valve on the drain and adding water to flush out some of the rust. Considering its a 1/2 valve and is coming from the Hartford loop i doubt its even doing anything what is am doing except for keeping that valve area clean.

[@320ceman]

Copper is a NO NO on steam

[@jamesgillies3710]

I seen a hartford loop. But didn't see an equalizer line?

[@thehvachacker]

Guilty I did this boiler 20 years ago when I’m trade school

[@outdoorswithlarryrobin]

Lost knowledge, old retired steam master, no need for makeup water on a Steam Boiler, if no leaks in piping, it will use the same water for 50 yrs, on a new install you should skim oil residue until sight glass is clear and stable, check PH of the water, correct as needed,

[@thehvachacker]

Yes except clean water boils faster than dirty water. Also if you don’t remove the sediment/ rust from returns it will plug up the boiler. I have videos of plugged up steam boiler pipes. From lack of draining. Also you want to make the LWCO move and shut the system down on the older style LWCO with float.

[@outdoorswithlarryrobin]

Not lack of clean water, Ph needs to be checked yearly, no need for automatic fill if piped properly, we have boilers untouched in 30yrs other than checking PH levels

[@thehvachacker]

What about steam lost from air vents? You always lose some moisture from the system until the radiator gets hot enough and the vents close.

[@PepsiManX360]

The HVAC Hacker Exactly. There’s always going to be a little lost of water every year. Auto water feeders are a necessity.

[@Abhishek-C92]

now thats what i am talking about 43 min awsome.

[@thehvachacker]

I try not to have many really short videos. A few of my coworkers told me I should try to cut my videos down to about 15 minutes yet too much work gets hidden that way. I try to save most of my really short videos or pics for facebook.

[@petergriffin1546]

Pressure guage for low pressure or stock one? Good cleaning..

[@thehvachacker]

I have used the same kind of gauge I use to test new gas lines. 0-15 psi scale

[@brainndamage]

What's the advantage of steam vs hydronic? It seems complicated and maintenance intensive if you need to drain the water every week. Our hydronic system only got drained partially when things were being replaced or moved around and got preventatively flushed twice in its lifetime.

[@thehvachacker]

Steam is a very primitive way of heating a home. Once many steam systems were coal-fired furnaces. Homes stopped being built with steam systems in the late 50's early 60's. It is very expensive to change a steam system to a hydronic 2 pipe system. Steam is very efficient yet required a lot of maintenance from its owner. Hydronic is a great way to heat the home it is a sealed system and only gets drained for repairs.

[@timjr6675]

That boiler should not be piped in copper. Copper in steam systems will eventually cause boiler failure and pin hole all the steel piping.

[@thehvachacker]

Yes I didn’t know 20 years ago when I installed this boiler. If it gets pinholes several years from now does it mean I did a shitty install?

[@timjr6675]

Ha! No, we all live and learn! That’s why the videos you guys do are great!

[@patrickmcshane7658]

Is that pinhole stuff have something to do with galvanic action.

[@pudmina]

What should boilers be plumbed with ? .... Oops - dangling participle ... correction "With what should the boiler be plumbed ? :)

[@thehvachacker]

Patrick yes dissimilar metals should always have dielectric fittings between them. Most the time the solder joints on 5e copper I find leaks. Yet I have been hearing forever never use copper in steam but see it all the time. When this fails I am replacing all copper with black steel pipe.

[@wnaarchitects6139]

What was the cause of your boiler to over fill? I didnt catch the reason. Mine is over filling now but there are no evident leaks in the system. I cleaned the pig coil before the heating season started. Great video and thanks for sharing. Happy New Year 2021!

[@thehvachacker]

The manual feed ball valve leaked through by not sealing 100%. A small drip by. This is common on steam systems.

[@wnaarchitects6139]

@@thehvachacker Thanks! I will check my supply line.

[@kdmq]

Good job and good gesture but I should point out at 15:57 teflon is on backwards. Oh well it didn't leak.

[@thehvachacker]

I will say yes and no to the backward. Yes, I am going in the wrong direction from what everyone is taught. Yet if I wrap enough of it around the threads and Teflon is wrapped tightly. Plus I believe in using pipe dope on top of the Teflon yes an overkill. How would it really matter? Please explain how it would leak? I start my Teflon wrap at top of fitting and end the wrap at the same area. Been doing it for 20 years without any leaks. I know I am going against what everyone says yet why wouldn't it still create the same seal?

[@kdmq]

@@thehvachacker If teflon tape is backwards the threading action can literally unwind the tape, like a backwards electrical hook connection coming off when you tighten the screw. You used enough though that this did not happen. Fun fact: teflon tape does not seal, it just reduces the thread friction so that you can thread the fitting on a little bit further.

[@thehvachacker]

@@kdmq That fitting I thought you were talking about the 1-1/4 fitting I used for the drain. I will be back soon to replace the auto feed since it was dripping by until I cleaned with wd40. This fitting isn't as forgiving as the larger fittings i wrapped.

[@mountain177]

You would think that someone would make an automatic drain for a boiler to drain it down and then refill it every 7 days or so

[@thehvachacker]

Most houses don’t have a floor drain for an auto drain fitting. They might have one out there

[@throttlebottle5906]

there's setups that could do that, A. not cheap and complicated B. needs floor drain or sump pump system. C. they plug up like everything else and require maintenance. ever see how far just 5 gallons of water spreads out when it spills? a dirty boiler sure beats one that drains and never refills because of broken drain/flush system. who doesn't love not having heat when it's needed the most, which always occurs middle of the night on long holiday weekends "Murphys Law" :))

[@mountain177]

@@throttlebottle5906 yeah murphys law can be a b***h. i guess for me it would be fairly easy to build where i deal with electronics. just a 555 timer circuit or even a programmable timer to open a valve. as for the drain, you could plumb it to a sink drain. or new installs could incoroprate a floor drain. anyways it was just a thought.

[@thehvachacker]

Mountain you would need a pump if you want to drain into sink. A floor drain is needed due to the height of most drains. A mechanical ball valve would work for the drain down and an auto feed could refill the boiler. Anything is possible yet it’s best for the owner of a steam boiler to properly maintain their system with weekly draining

[@johnkrim8377]

The HVAC Hacker I'm sure you could find an electric automatic drain valve the same as they use on large air compressors to drain the water out of them . Some have timers built in or you can wire it to a timer of some kind. With the pressure from the boiler it probably would push up to the rim of a laundry tub if you have one close by.

[@bruce8572]

wow, I have never seen a boiler with THAT much crap in it!

[@steelsvlogs3835]

My boiler is not making enough steam,yet I don't have a leak.can you tell me what's up with it.keeps taking water often.

[@sethg6157]

My old house had a boiler that had a blow down valve at the bottom for cleaning out the gunk is that not common or did this one just not have one? It vented all the crap and gunk right out the side of the house via a 3 inch pipe (single house on 29 acres so no one near by to get caught in the steam blast)

[@thehvachacker]

Not all are set up with a nice clean out. Yet it’s good to have on any steam boiler

[@stephenhunter70]

@@thehvachacker I used to assist in the operation of a steam powered paddle steamer, it looks like they haven't blown down that steam boiler in a long time.

[@thehvachacker]

@@stephenhunter70 it gets drained down on occasion yet the drain set up didn't allow the much on the bottom to come out. why I changed the drain fittings

[@stephenhunter70]

@@thehvachacker With the ones we operated it was done every day the boiler was being used and then when we had steam up, we got the best results that way.

[@thehvachacker]

Clean water boils faster

[@Abhishek-C92]

u can apply teflon tape in both directions.

[@thehvachacker]

Yes as long as the fitting does not cause the Teflon to unwrap out of the treads which I have done and had to rewrap the fittings.

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

Goes on one way only. You're a hacker too

[@dr.crazysdallekstudio8585]

If the water was muddy/rusty for a long time because the steam pipes were/are old and dirty and the water is fairly clear now after 5 years of constant running water through it to keep it clear, can stuff build up inside the steam boiler? My real question is, is there some pressure flushing of a home boiler service. I have a 3 story Victorian, the furnace was replaced with a Weil McLain and all they said was to flush it every month, I am a tech and that was not good enough for me I did it allot more. Your video showed me some things so I cleaned the glass and valves, muck came out the bottom but it ran clear after a minute. I have not been able to find any boiler cleaning service, am I imagining this? They used to clean the boilers at the school I worked at, much bigger though. ns

[@jazzcornertv]

I saw an old school dead mens steam boiler, video they said you can have a steam cut off valve installed to build up pressure and flush the water out good. You just have to be mindful to remember to open it back up or you might blow up something expensive. (Lol)

[@veil67]

i wonder to help a bit the boiler if a water filter even a basic one would make a difference ,seems that the water is hard a tiny bit

[@thehvachacker]

Water is hard, I kinda expected the bottom to be like this why I picked up fittings before I got there to replace the drain set up. No way to flush bottom of the boiler with the old drain set up. So you are seeing 20 years of sludge sitting at the bottom. This is why a steam boiler needs to be drained all the way down every week.

[@hugz0305]

Those knipex?

[@thehvachacker]

Best pliers out there. Love the Knipex pliers' wrench and cobras

[@cdrake7997]

Is that a common thing? water leaking trough the water feed. What else would make the water level too high?

[@thehvachacker]

Yes water leaking through the feed valve is very common on a steam boiler. The symptoms are no one adds water yet water has to be drained out often. A restricted return might trap water, then the auto feed valve adds water. Then when boiler is off all the water comes back down to the boiler, I even seen a plugged return cause the water feed to keep adding water till it comes out the air vents. Yet 97% of the time water slowly leaks past the manual water feed valve.

[@emmanycporve]

I have water coming out of one of the air vents. But i have a one pipe system. I do see the water returning back when the cicle is off but by yhen the auto feeder has sensed no water and puts more water in. Skimming the boiler was recommended by a tecj. But I'm not sure that will fix the water hammer and the overfilling. Any other ideas??? I appreciate any feedback. Thanks

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

Must be your hack work on the sink faucet, not being fastened

[@thehvachacker]

that was me. I bought the sink just left the old faucet with the intent of coming back and replacing it one day

[@stevenziegler2523]

What should the Honeywell cut in controller be set at and how do you determine that?

[@thehvachacker]

I usually set the control with the cut out as low as I can without disconnecting the linkage. Which is right under .5 and a differential of 1. Very little steam pressure is needed to heat a house

[@stevieg4201]

The cut in + the differential = cut out, your looking for about 3 lbs or less of steam pressure for most homes.

[@stevenziegler2523]

@@stevieg4201 thank you

[@stevieg4201]

No problem Brother, I think your doing an exceptional job with that unit, I own my own heating company and have 37 years in, and I’d hire you in a second. Don’t worry about the critics, they just want to be heard and don’t understand what we go through when we are dealing with customers, especially the ones that are tight with their money. Keep on posting brother, great video.

[@stevenziegler2523]

@@stevieg4201 thank you again. Try to do what I can but the big stuff I would call the pros

[@nxtchpforme9154]

What is leaking??

[@thehvachacker]

The manual feed valve was leaking.

[@throttlebottle5906]

i suddenly had to go pee @ 33:40 lol

[@thehvachacker]

It sounds like the boiler is taking a leak. The worst I see purging air out of a boiler zone or washing a condenser having to pee.

[@kareny5438]

what is that drain called? i have a crown boiler the front looks similar to this one. i'm supposed to drain this once per week? i opened the valve but only a few drops came out. does it have to be running for a while before water comes out? this is the first time i'm opening the boiler since last winter.

[@thehvachacker]

This is the boiler main drain valve. what happens when you open the drain valve and feed water into the boiler? Does the water seem to come out. The boiler drain can get plugged up with sediment over time.

[@kareny5438]

@@thehvachacker yeah I think that is what happened. I talked to the plumber and he is coming next week. Thanks

[@thehvachacker]

@@kareny5438 What was the outcome of your problem?

[@kareny5438]

@@thehvachacker the drain valve was clogged. He managed to pop out a little piece of sediment and all the water came out. The rubber seal in the valve was old so it dripped even if you tried to shut it, so he changed it. Also the valves for the glass tube level was apparently shut too tight so it was giving false readings. Turns out the boiler was completely filled up and it took a while for him to drain it. But other than that the boiler was surprisingly okay.

[@biker55555]

any reason you don't flush it through mud pipe under pressure? (10~psi)

[@thehvachacker]

I’m not understanding the method your asking. This boiler never has more that 2-3 psi of steam. I got all the rusted sludge out. Let me know if your asking why I don’t back feed the boiler with city water? I’m just a tech sharing my experiences not claiming to be a guru or know it all. I learn new stuff everyday.

[@biker55555]

What you do is you isolate the boiler with valves so steam cannot escape... then you bring up the pressure to about 10psi (overriding the pressuretrol), no more, you don't want the pressure relief to pop... then you open the drain/mud pipe. This flushes/forces much more sludge out of the boiler versus when you only have 0.5-2 PSI. Be careful if you attempt this in the future. I was just wondering if you knew something I don't is all. Thanks for reply! Good video otherwise.

[@stevieg4201]

It doesn’t look like he can isolate the steam pipes, or the Hartford loop, so he’s flushing everything properly, remember, when we go into peoples houses, we can’t just leave them with an really big bill, (like to instal isolation valves), he’s cleaning everything out that he’s suppose to clean out, his boss may have a common sense protocol as to how far he’s allowed to go on average. I know I do, unless I can talk to the customer for my recommendations and costs to upgrade. He did a great job. 😎

[@1800KLIENFELD]

Yo hacker - what if my steam boiler doesn’t have a wet return valve that I can inspect? How does one go about adding one? Any recommendations? Thanks again!

[@thehvachacker]

You can add a valve like I did in this video. The valve is more to make draining boiler easier. The drain I replaced on this boiler wasn’t allowing the boiler to drain all the way why it was crusty. Their is steam boiler treatments that help clean inside the steam boiler, pipes and radiators. Is your return steel or copper? To answer a eplaced on this boiler wasn’t allowing the boiler to drain all the way why it was crusty. Their is steam boiler treatments that help clean inside the steam boiler, pipes and radiators. Is your return steel or copper? If you have water hammering look for areas that water can get trapped in the steam pipes. Steam doesn’t go through water easily. In turn causing hammering. I am located in Bergen county

[@michaelp9952]

@@thehvachacker may have your email or phone number, My steam boiler making hammering sound. Thanks

[@thehvachacker]

[e-mail]

[@keepthinking2666]

@@michaelp9952 too much water most likely and the leak in a radiator or somewhere up top

[@hartsfire5706]

wow that thing was a bit of a mess grin.

[@thehvachacker]

Yea I kinda expected it why I brought the fittings to change the drain set up

[@divmart8378]

Bom trabalho

[@cyruswhite4102]

Milwaukee transfer pump

[@superiorcomfortheatingairl3373]

Are you sure you didn’t want take my recommendations I gave you around Christmas time? I know one thing, this would be good job for using your new Milwaukee 18 Volt HackSaw, I would be cutting out all those water lines out making room for new sheet metal ductwork and upgrade to a high efficiency forced air furnace. Lol

[@thehvachacker]

Dude you are breaking my heart thinking of this house not having the most efficient type of heating system. I understand your point of view on boilers and respect that yet I would actually put a gas steam system into my dream new construction home. Yet, I am sure that hacksaw will chop thew some rotted out steam lines this winter. I already have ductwork ran all over the house from the attic down. Not ready to chop that ceiling open and remove beams again. Just replace the coil or any parts that fail. My parents had central air put in when they added an addition yet never raised the roof. Who knew I would be the one taking care of it why I chopped open access so I could stand on a ladder right next to it.

[@jibaritomx]

Is that harbor freight light, I have one of those..

[@thehvachacker]

Yes it is and I have two of them cause it impressed are enough other than battery life, why I bought two

[@jibaritomx]

@@thehvachacker pretty badass light, the battery is 18650 I guess can be upgraded to better battery than stock...

[@thehvachacker]

I was considering to update the battery. Yet with 2 lights I always have a charged up light. It provides 2+ hours of light on hi

[@Rainmaker88]

Its always the ball valve.

[@thehvachacker]

They leak by from the hard water. Why I put unions to open up and verify. No reason to put a coupling back after cutting copper to see if it leaks by.

[@Rainmaker88]

@@thehvachacker changed one in West Orange, it was all caked up with blue and green crap. After I cut it out you could actually blow air through it while being closed.

[@briandenapoli3250]

Know there's no money doing a family job but didn't you just buy some couplings instead of unsweating you bought ball valves so figured price of 2 couplings worth less than time it took to unsweat maybe it's a pain in the ass to resweat fittings

[@thehvachacker]

I had the couplings yet don’t like looking at a pipe with a bunch of fittings on it. I unsweat fittings all the time. If they are difficult to clean just hit them with some heat and wipe the old solder out of the way. Or hit with heat as trying to put back together and it slides right inside the fittings.

[@briandenapoli3250]

I know how to do it just thought the time consumption doesn't make it worth it time is money 10 minutes unsweating wiping solder off with a rag then a cleaning brush with 1/2 inch fitting isn't worth the 60 cents spent on 2 couplings

[@dr.crazysdallekstudio8585]

where are you located?

[@Randylazz]

Hell yea NY Jets baby!!

[@thehvachacker]

I bleed Green and its been years of bleeding not celebrating

[@oscarrodriguez-pj2eq]

Does anybody knows if the two valves on the glass sighting has to be open?

[@keepthinking2666]

Yes and no depends on commercial or residential if you talking about commercial with a 200 gallon tank top one is closed bottom one's open and that's on a steel drum on residential we don't get very many steam boilers down where I live but I believe they're both supposed to be open on steam so you can see the correct level of the water and steam personally it doesn't really make too much sense to have it open on the top for the steam because that means you've got high temperature steam hitting that valve and glass with hot water below it

[@tomgarabed6568]

Anyone else notice that he puts the Teflon tape on backwards??

[@thehvachacker]

I do put it on backward, and for years just roll it around either direction without leaks. I have ADHD so my hands start doing robotic things like wrapping tape without me paying much mind to it. Yet I ask how does it really make a difference? I start the Teflon, not at the threads closest to the inside of the pipe, then wrap it tightly ending around the same spot I started which means there are at least 2 layers of Teflon. Afterward, I apply pipe dope which is overkill at this point yet objective is no leak. As I tighten my fitting it is still packing the Teflon and pipe dope tightly into threads creating a seal, isn't it? So why is it really considered incorrect how I am doing it if the outcome is the same?

[@tomgarabed6568]

@@thehvachacker the difference is as you thread the fittings together it can push out and cause you not to have a good seal. Also the point of Teflon tape and or pipe dope is not to seal the threads it's to reduce friction between the male and female threads to allow you to make the tight enough not to leak. As you know the threads are tapered, and the tighter you make them the less chance of a leak!!. There is some pipe dope on the market that is used to actually seal the,joints but the are the type that get hard after they dry. I am sure I am not telling you anything that you don't know after all you are a Hacker!!! And not a licensed plumber!!!

[@PatrickLeeUS]

@@tomgarabed6568 why do all of you arm-chair quarterbacks sit there and berate a guy that is actually working for a living. Yes, he is applying the teflon incorrectly, but then again did it leak??? Let them get the job done and leave them alone unless you are his boss or code inspector.

[@tomgarabed6568]

@@PatrickLeeUS boy you hit the nail on the head!!! Armchair quaterback? Is that someone who sits back and watches and comments but can't really do the job? Well that is NOT me. I have been doing this type of work for 30+ years I am talking out of experience. My original post just pointed out that the Teflon was put on backwards! The Hacker jumped my @$$ getting all defensive about how he does things. Just remember you are never to old or young to learn new things.

[@thehvachacker]

I didn't jump your ass I just was looking for a good reason on why it matters how the Teflon is applied. Plus I also mentioned how I wrapped the pipe prevents the Teflon from getting unwrapped. Which will happen if done the wrong direction yet not giving it a good wrap and finishing the wrap above where the fittings come together. I make many mistakes. Nowhere near perfect. I just like to hear reasons on why my approach is so wrong. As far as those nasty blue and black pipe sealants I refuse to use them. Everything I put together one day I might have to take apart. I had to redo 4" gas mains all around a warehouse a few years ago and someone used block the blue crap. I needed a torch to get those fitting off even using a 4" Ridgid. Sucks on a man lift fighting with big gas fittings basically glued together. Is the way I ask questions jumping someone? I try to learn from comments when they come in respectfully. I wasn't taking your original comment as offensive. I have just been hearing for years the Teflon needs to go on a certain way. I don't have leaks cause as long as the teflon or dope is compacted against the outer threads there is a seal. Even though the threads are tapered helping the seal. Still need some kind of sealant and with water better to be safe than sorry.

[@Bob.W.]

All that fresh makeup water will accomplish is to rot out the boiler years before its time.

[@thehvachacker]

Clean water boils faster than dirty water. I installed this boiler 20 years ago and it's still heating all the rads even the rad shooting steam and water tonight I had to work on.

[@thomasbroking7943]

The harder the water is makes a difference also

[@thehvachacker]

@@thomasbroking7943 yes you have minerals and rust sediment pugging up the bottom of the boiler nd Hartford loop nd returnlines

[@thomasbroking7943]

@@thehvachacker i once tried to chip out the threads on a broken brass boiler drain on the bottom of the boiler.. Brass with the craftsman screwdriver that we all chip with, the whole piece of boiler snapped.. Couldn't believe how soft it got..

[@thehvachacker]

If you didn't push through with your screwdriver that boiler was about to start leaking soon anyway

[@dannyjamison8337]

Totally useless video...dude doesn't say what he's doing! Why don't you try explaining what's going on?

[@jrc630]

How $$$ much for that job after hrs

[@mygiguser]

that huge valve he replaced there costs already a fortune

[@jamesliu3688]

When boiler is off the water is clean, on get mud when it’s on.?

[@thehvachacker]

Steam boilers get mud which is rust particles from inside the pipes. When off as you mentioned all the water is still, some mud can be at the bottom. Then the boiler starts and water boils stirring up mud on bottom. Also the heat goes up the pipes as steam. Condenser as it cools off inside the radiators. The condensation running back to the boiler might carry back some rust particles. That’s why the boiler needs draining to remove the sediment.

[@jamesliu3688]

Do you need to drain it everyweek?

[@thehvachacker]

It should be drained every week when it gets cold out.

[@jamesliu3688]

@@thehvachacker you mean the boiler is off when it's cold then you drain it. In my boiler when is off. The water come out clean. I usually drain it half bucket when it's on every other day

[@matthiasmichiels8921]

Whats the name of the flashlight that you have there?

[@thehvachacker]

It’s the brain slimbar worklamp. There is a video link at the end of the video to a review I did on the lamp

[@steelsvlogs3835]

My boiler is not making enough steam,yet I don't have a leak.can you tell me what's up with it.keeps taking water often.

[@thehvachacker]

Do any of your air vents hiss non stop? Even mabey mist some steam out? The boiler shouldn’t need water that often. Usually a leak is the only cause for having constantly add water. Some leaks in the boiler only happen when it’s running. If you don’t have a leak does the boiler over fill when off? If so the return might be restricted slowing down the return water back to boiler. An air vent is suppose to close once radiator gets hot.

[@steelsvlogs3835]

@@thehvachacker I removed the air vents only the first 3 getting hot

[@thehvachacker]

Did you replace the thermostat recently? Add insulation to the walls the boiler is in? With vents off all the rads should be getting hot. Does your main vent in basement by boiler open and close? Sorry about all the questions I am just trying to get info to help you.

[@steelsvlogs3835]

@@thehvachacker thank a million for responding to my email question