Why is the boiler clicking?
by
Chris Stump
Hello all! We moved into a house this summer that is equipped with a natural gas boiler for steam heat. This evening I tried running the heat and don't think it's working properly. The radiators aren't warming up, and when I crank the heat and go to the boiler I hear a constant clicking noise. It sounds like when you try to light a burner on the stove while the pilot light is out (the boiler has a pilot light, but I'm not sure where it is).
This is a Dunkirk brand boiler. About 20 years old. I need to know how to verify that it's running and doing what it should. Any ideas?
Thanks!
This is a Dunkirk brand boiler. About 20 years old. I need to know how to verify that it's running and doing what it should. Any ideas?
Thanks!
3 answers
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http://www.masterplumber.net/no_heat/standing_pilot_gas_boiler/standing_pilot_hot_water_boiler.html
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Oct 09, 2013
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Nice link; thanks Donna! However, I was able to resolve my issue without it. Turns out the main gas line to the boiler was closed. Opened it up and the clicking stopped once the boiler ignited.
Chris Stump
on Oct 09, 2013
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The clicking was the ignition as you already know. Be sure that you keep the water level in the middle third of the glass on the side of the unit. And during its operation it will move up and down. So do this check when the system is off and cooler or cold. Flush the boiler from the drain on the bottom of both the pipe that returns to the boiler and the bottom side of the boiler until it runs clear. If you have a triangle shaped device with a valve on the bottom and a few wires coming in on the side. That is your low water cut off and flush device. Open that valve up into a bucket until it runs clear. That device can be done monthly. However the main valves should only be done once a year. Failure to do this will result in a failure of the low water cut off and should you forget to put water into the boiler it can dry fire and crack. If your radiators are blowing steam all the time, your using way to much water in the system. These air vents should only allow air to come out and once the steam sees them they should turn off. If not change these vents out. pay attention to the sizes of the holes on the top of them. The farther away the radiator is from the boiler, the larger the hole. Close by? use one with the smallest of holes. You can get adjustable types. The adjustment allows for you to select the size of the hole on them. The larger the hole, the faster the steam gets to the radiator and the hotter it will become. Its the method used to balance the house so every room is the same. Need a hotter room? Put in a larger vent size air vent.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Oct 10, 2013
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