Boiler issues - Working sort of ;(

[Boyd]

Well today was the truly first cold day here at 10 degrees with wind chill putting us a -7 (depending on which weather guy you listen to) and I noticed that the boiler wasn't keeping up. I've had this happen before so I went around and tried bleeding the system out of air where I could. No go. Finally I hooked up a short length of hose to the drain with the boiler on, well pump on and circulating pump on and opened it up into a kitchen sized garbage can. I did blow a whole air out of there (not to mention empty the silly thing 6 times or so).

My question is this... It seems to be working so far, and I am pretty sure I did get 90% of the air out that was trapped in the system, but does my well pump also push air into the system? Should I kill the well, shut off the main to the boiler then try to get past the air lock with the system closed? Needing an opinion, experience, knowledge.

2 out of 3 zones are toasty ....

the other one

 

[PurpleChicken]

Boyd, your well water flows through the same lines? Usually in a boiler system the heating water is seperate. The well water should go into a hot water holding tank with a heat exchanger. Is the system real old?

Wells water should not have any air in it unless its at the bottom or something else is introducing air into the system.


edited to add: There should be a valve to disconnect the fresh water supply.


edited to add #2: If you kill the well pressure (now that it occured to me the system type you have) there would be no pressure to purge the air or replace the air with water.

If it's at 90% then just let it go. Bleed it again in a few days.


I've got some experience in larger commercial systems. My residential is sorta limited.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
The system is close to 80 years old and has been repaired and retro fitted a LOT... small 30 gal equivalent bladder tank, not sure about heat exchanger... ? The fins on the baseboard?

I can shut off the fresh water separate. I have my diagrams ready and raring. This spring I am going to be installing a million auto vents... :vent

 

[PurpleChicken]

Yikes. Your system may look like the pipes screensaver in Win98.

A heat exchanger is how the domestic water should be heated. One of the zones off the boiler should go to a holding tank as well as the domestic hot water. There heat is transfered to the domestic water without mixing. The well water should go directly into the bladder tank and then out to the hot water holding tank but it doesn't sound like you have one. Pics?

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
looks like a win 98 screen saver....

 

[geepy]

Sorry no help here. I live in florida and no one knows what a boiler is.

We just throw some wood in the fire to heat the house. I have never turned on my furnace.
Though me and my hubby just built a killer log splitter.

edited because I can't spell

 

[Boyd]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3257703&id=522483714

Here's my mess of a utility room. Notice the piece of foamboard I pulled down to make sure the pipe that runs through the attic is getting warm now... thats how I know it's sort of working.. kinda

 

[GaNewChick]

Quote:
Cold here is 59.

Sorry, I know nothing about a boiler. Hope you get it working ... if not, I'll make room for you and the crew here.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
Cold here is 59.

Sorry, I know nothing about a boiler. Hope you get it working ... if not, I'll make room for you and the crew here.

I think it's sort of working, and I have plenty of ways to supplement the heat, fireplace, high efficiency kerosene heaters and electric heaters We won't freeze but the wife noticed it wasn't a toasty 72 degrees inside... sheesh, in the summer she likes it 60...?!?!?!

 

[PurpleChicken]

You set your heat to 72 degrees? Don't you care about the expense of fuel? How about all the global warming gas you are creating? I think thermostats that go over 60 should be illegal.


Mine is set at 50. Me and the dogs just put on a sweater.