American Standard to Weil Mclain

A bomb in the making, a 35 year old hydronic boiler with failed safeties converted this low pressure water boiler to a high pressure steam boiler. Fortunately no one got hurt when this boiler decided to shake the house and let everyone know it was time for it to be replaced!

Older American Standard Boiler

Older American Standard Boiler

Boilers to me are the most fascinating piece of equipment in the Heating world, but not just the boiler itself… the entire hydronic system in the home. Every hydronic system is unique in design and a challenge to diagnose at times. But in this case its was very obvious what needed to be done…replacement.

New Weil McLAIN Boiler

New Weil McLAIN Boiler

The new Weil McLAIN CGa boiler fit right into position, the access was no longer from the side facing the HWT but towards the front. This gives the service technician better access. The new Pressure/Temperature gauge now is visible. I added dielectric unions to fight electrolysis’s …and also added shutoff valves.

 

Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? I install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.

Skagit County Spaghetti piping

Boiler Spaghetti Piping.

At first look this boiler piping could be overwhelming to a service technician, especially someone not use to hydronics. But I have learned and try to teach not to look at the big picture, but rather dissect piece by piece and it will all come together.

 

Cross Pressurization

The initial complaint from the customer was about not having heat and there where issues with their domestic water. My first look at any boiler is the pressure and temperature. I noticed the boiler was running at 75lbs PSI and the PRV was popping off. I then noticed that the PRV was rated for 150 PSI ... not 30. So there was two issues i found right off the bat. I then found both the domestic and hydronic expansion tanks where also faulty. After turning off the feed to the boiler I noticed the PSI would not drop off ... My attention quickly went to the braford white indirect hot water tank. After several tests I found the coil within the tank to be faulty, bleeding high pressure into the boiler.

Conclusion

The domestic indirect tank had a faulty coil, allowing domestic pressure(75lbs) to bleed into the boiler system(30 lbs).  I found the PRV was not only the wrong size but the also was faulty. Tank was replaced under warranty and the PRV was replaced. All working correctly at this Skagit County Spaghetti piping job.

 

97 gary2

Skagit County Spaghetti piping job
Bradford white combi tank