Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Desperately Seeking Help-Gas Boiler
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01-15-02, 08:46 PM
Here's the story...............this Summer I spent a couple of thousand dollars renovating the 2nd floor for a tenant. I own a 2-family older home; 2 older gas furnaces; 2 thermostats, 1 on each floor. During the renovation process, the bedroom radiator was disconnected and taken off for a couple of hours. The tenant recently told me that the radiator in the renovated bedroom doesn't work at all and that the other radiators aren't working properly. Only 1 seems to be producing any real heat. I've bled the radiators numerous times - each time getting air. Still no real heat.
The 2nd floor Bryant gas furnace has no circulator pump - it's gravity fed. The expansion tank isn't a diaphragm type; it's kind of a long cylinder type handing from the cellar ceiling (not sure what kind it is). Upon checking the furnace, the pressure gauge is reading 6-7 psi when the furnace is hot. The temperature reading, also on the pressure gauge, is reading fine. The furnace appears to be working o.k. I know that the pressure is too low but don't know why or how to correct it. Also, there is a water-supply shutoff valve, located near the Pressure Reducing Valve and it's open - should it be closed? It seems to me that I read somewhere that it should be closed but this doesn't make any sense to me. How can I tell if it's the Pressure Reducing Valve?
It's getting cold here in Albany, New York and I'm going to lose a wonderful tenant if I don't get this remedied QUICKLY. I just cannot afford to replace the furnace at this point in time. Any words of wisdom would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!
The 2nd floor Bryant gas furnace has no circulator pump - it's gravity fed. The expansion tank isn't a diaphragm type; it's kind of a long cylinder type handing from the cellar ceiling (not sure what kind it is). Upon checking the furnace, the pressure gauge is reading 6-7 psi when the furnace is hot. The temperature reading, also on the pressure gauge, is reading fine. The furnace appears to be working o.k. I know that the pressure is too low but don't know why or how to correct it. Also, there is a water-supply shutoff valve, located near the Pressure Reducing Valve and it's open - should it be closed? It seems to me that I read somewhere that it should be closed but this doesn't make any sense to me. How can I tell if it's the Pressure Reducing Valve?
It's getting cold here in Albany, New York and I'm going to lose a wonderful tenant if I don't get this remedied QUICKLY. I just cannot afford to replace the furnace at this point in time. Any words of wisdom would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!
arkayassoc
01-18-02, 07:56 PM
Based on the low pressure, and the fact that you are still getting air out of the radiators, you probably do not have enough water in the system.
Make sure the supply valve is open, and turn the adjusting stem in the top of the pressure regulating valve, clock-wise, i.e. tighten it. You should hear water flow through the valve into the boiler system. If you do not hear flow, the PRV may need replaced. If you do hear flow, turn the thermostat up, so the furnace will kick on, and start venting the radiators at the nearest (to the boiler) radiator. If you stop getting water out, go back and tighten the PRV stem again, and keep venting until you get water out of all radiators.
The radiators and piping hold a lot of water, so it may take a while to fill the system.
Make sure the supply valve is open, and turn the adjusting stem in the top of the pressure regulating valve, clock-wise, i.e. tighten it. You should hear water flow through the valve into the boiler system. If you do not hear flow, the PRV may need replaced. If you do hear flow, turn the thermostat up, so the furnace will kick on, and start venting the radiators at the nearest (to the boiler) radiator. If you stop getting water out, go back and tighten the PRV stem again, and keep venting until you get water out of all radiators.
The radiators and piping hold a lot of water, so it may take a while to fill the system.