newbie boiler questions

[jens422]

Any help provided would be helpful. I just moved into a house with a steam boiler heating system. It is an Abrams-Cox stove from c. 1908. I've had a plumber look at it, but he couldn't provide much help other than getting it basically working. The pressure while the system is running is usually around 30-32 psi, and all of the radiators work, but I never see any water in the glass tube on the third (uppermost) floor. Does this mean I need to add water to the system; and, conversely, won't doing so increase the pressure? How can I find out the ideal pressure?

[KField]

First of all, I think your pressure gauge is wrong. The system would be a hot water system and not steam. You could fill the system until you see water in the glass on the top floor. If all radiators are warm, you could just leave it alone too.

Ken