Heating Help

Cleaning Broomell Returns

@ May 14, 2009 11:10 AM in Cleaning Returns

I have a two pipe Broomell system and have been getting quite a bit of rust in the returns. I know that much of this is converted into magnatite when it sits in the boiler but it has gotten to a point of being too much. Sometimes clogging the site glass ports. At least once a month I drain off some of the water (abot 2 quarts) in the boiler until it runs clear. I want to clean the returns to reduce the amout of loose rust in the system and wanted to know the best way to clean them out. The system is 96 years old and works very smoothly with the vaporstat set at 6oz. of pressure. Should I begin the flushing process at the radiators? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Old Radiators

@ March 14, 2009 10:11 AM in old radiators

There are some old 'Cast Iron Radiators'on ebay. They look like old Aetna radiators. Good Luck

Your Plumber

@ March 13, 2009 3:41 PM in RUMBLING PEERLESS 63-03 STEAM BOILER

If your friend the plumber refuses to fix the problems or pay to have the problems fixed you should file a complaint with the New Jersey Attorney General's office. Even if you don't get any monetary satisfaction from them this guy may think twice before doing another job like this. The NJ AG's office has a special unit that deals with plumbing and heating problems.

Thanks for the information

@ March 11, 2009 2:57 PM in Consequences of undersized gas piping.

Hey Wayne, Thanks for starting this thread. After reading through these postings I called PSE&G, NJ and asked them if I had enough gas and pressure coming through the line to properly support our boiler 287K BTU's, on-demand hot water 199K BTU's, gas dryer and upcoming gas stove. He examined the gas piping 1.5 inch main and .75 inch feed to each appliance and said it was sufficient but he is ordering a larger meter that will handle the load better. He said the supply pressure was fine. Thanks again everyone for sharing the information. Brian

Similar Problem

@ January 21, 2009 12:49 PM in Water Gauge on Boiler

Homeowner here who has had a similar problem with my Peerless boiler. I presume when you say water gauge you mean sight glass. Before you do anything check that the valves at the top and bottom of the sight glass are open. If this clears the sight glass you're done. If you're handy and very careful you can clear up the problem. Let the boiler cool off to room temperature and drain. Close the top and bottom valves on the sight glass. Remove the two brass bars that protect the glass and carefully unscrew the fittings at the top and bottom of the tube. Remove the sight glass. If there is crud in the bottom valve, you will probably have to remove the valve to clean the port properly. Have a bucket handy to catch any remaining water and crud. A bottle brush works well to clean the port. You may want to repeat the same procedure on the top port just to be sure it's clear. You say the boiler was cleaned last year. Do you mean skimed? This process will remove oils and some dirt from the manufacturing process but will not remove all the crud from the bottom of the boiler. If you have an old system and the problem occurs again you should call in a pro to clean the returns. Just my $0.02.

Brad

@ December 30, 2008 5:40 PM in Magnets

Would the same approach apply for two pipe steam? My system is an old Broomell about 95 years and I see a lot of black and dark red in my return water. I can access the returns and was wondering what your thoughts might be. Last year the port at the bottom of the sight glass actually blocked the flow of water. Thanks for your help.

What type of valve?

@ December 24, 2008 9:36 PM in Orifice sizing

What type of valve are you trying to fix? Is it for a two pipe vapor system?

Venting

@ November 9, 2008 9:47 PM in Venting Help

Hi Gerry, Thanks for the reply. I will add the two additional vents and try to measure how much time is saved in heating the whole system. By the way I'll contact Dan H. and make a contribution.

Radiators

@ November 9, 2008 9:32 PM in Radiators

Are any of the radiators at your friends house Richmond. I haven't been able to find them anywhere.

Venting

@ November 9, 2008 8:49 PM in Venting Help

The returns are 1.5" but the pipe is reduced to 3/4" before it gets to the vents. Thanks for your help.

Venting Help

@ November 8, 2008 3:47 PM in Venting Help

Can someone please tell me if I need more or less venting on my Broomell 2 pipe Vapor system. I currently have 2 Gorton # 2's at the end of the returns. There's 36 feet of 2.5 inch pipe and 47 feet of 3 inch pipe. Thanks in advance for your help. Brian

@ August 22, 2008 11:29 AM in What was your first concert?

First concert Peter, Paul and Mary Carnagie Hall 1966. Told the lady at the ticket booth it was my first time and she gave me two tickets on the stage. Great time. Biggest concert - Altamont, California 1969. Last concert Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan - Little Falls, New Jersey. Affordable Tickets Tour.

Get Well Soon

@ August 18, 2008 10:11 AM in Prayers needed!

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and wisdom through the years I have been on this site. My prayers are with you. Home owner.

HARD WATER QUESTION

@ July 7, 2008 11:06 AM in HARD WATER QUESTION

My cousin wants to install a tankless water heater (Rennai, Takagi) but he has a hard water problem. He doesn't like water softeners and was wondering if there are any filtering systems out there that would remove the minerals from the water. He also has hot water baseboard and will soon be replacing his boiler due to mineral buildup and efficiency. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Radiators

@ June 23, 2008 12:13 PM in High Priced Radiators

I think it's amazing what some people will pay for the right radiators. Check this out. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270239631343&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017

Ball Valve

@ April 2, 2008 6:34 PM in New Steamer Install by Steamhead and Gordo

Thanks Steamhead. I'll look for one at my local supply house or possibly McMaster-Carr.

Have the same issue.

@ April 2, 2008 6:29 PM in plugged guage?

I have the same issue with my Peerless installed last September. Hope someone responds.

Radiators

@ April 2, 2008 6:26 PM in Pie warmer (Dan H.)

Hi Dan, would you take a look at the post I put in earlier? It's under Incredible Radiators. Who made these and how old do you think they are? I still owe you a book which I'll send soon.

Sight glass blowdown

@ April 2, 2008 9:55 AM in New Steamer Install by Steamhead and Gordo

Did the blowdown on the sight glass come with the boiler? Do you have a close up picture? I would like to add it to my Peerless 63-06 because of all the magnatite in my system I'm concerned that the nipples may become clogged. Thanks, Brian

Incredible Radiators

@ April 2, 2008 9:30 AM in Incredible Radiators

Has anyone ever seen anything like these? Look like they may have come from a church but it says there from a house. Who made these beautiful things? Looks like a great opportunity for someone building a new system. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160225206466&_trksid=p3984.cWAT.m240.lVI

How about tunstall?

@ March 15, 2008 11:24 PM in Steam readiator control?

Would one of the Tunstall orifice valves lower the amount of steam and therefore the temperature?

Skim Port

@ March 12, 2008 3:43 PM in Skim Tap on a Boiler

Just another home owner here. I don't know how hard it will be to remove the factory plug but it is definitely worth the effort. I have the same set-up on my Peerless except I used a cap and not a plug on the nipple. It's been two years and leaving it in has not caused any problems. It a lot easier to skim each year knowing the access is always there. I would recommend a cold skim first when the boiler is cold, as Dan H. suggested, so that any remaining oil that is floating will come right out with the first water. Peerless recommends using sodium carbonate (super washing soda from your local supermarket) in the first cleaning of the boiler, if it's been 5-10 years since installation I would recommend doing this if you have very dirty water surging water in the sight glass. With the skim port open and the boiler on the water will start to come out of the skim port as it gets hotter. Don't let the boiler get to a point of creating steam as it will come gushing out of the skim port. Turn off the boiler when it gets to hot and repeat after it cools down a bit. Two or three times should do the trick. Be sure to flush out the boiler completely at least twice and check the PH level of the water. The whole process will take a couple of hours so doing on a warm day when you won't be need any heat. God luck.