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-   -   Leaking Furnace (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=44468)

  • Nov 23, 2006, 09:36 AM
    Schmoopdawg
    Leaking Furnace
    I originally posted this under heating, but think it might be considered a plumbing question.

    Hi all,

    Here's the short story: I am getting some water coming out of my pressure release valve on my furnace.

    Here's what I know:
    - The pressure release valve only goes off when the system gets to 30 psi, so it seems to be doing it's job.
    - The amount of water released is very consistently the same.
    - The "standing pressure" in the system is about 15 psi, so I'd guess that the pressure reduction valve coming into the system is working (and we even replaced that early on).
    - I thought it might be the expansion tank. I took it off the system and it seems to be holding at 12 psi. It also appears to be the tank recommended for our system. However, just for the heck of it, I did replace the tank with a larger tank, which is preset at 12 psi (I did not confirm it).
    - After we exchanged tanks I do see less water in my bucket in the morning (after the furnace has kicked in)

    I have a two story house. Is my "standing pressure" of 15 psi too high?

    I did discover that my Pressure Reducing Valve (Watts 1156F) can be adjusted, so I brought it down from 15 PSI to 12 PSI. The valve information says to determine vertical feet from THE VALVE to the top of the highest radiator. I was assuming you measured from the furnace. Given that, I'd say I probably go up around 15 vertical feet, which means that even 12 PSI could be a tad too much. Correct?

    Thanks for anything you can offer! This will be my third winter in the house, and I am looking forward to not having to empty the bucket every morning!
  • Nov 23, 2006, 09:50 AM
    leftwinga
    Do you also heat your hot water in your boiler via a coil? If so, Try closing the valve off to in the inlet of the coil for a while and moniter the pressure... the coil may have a pinhole, causing the boiler to be over fed via the coil. If that's the case.. you need a new coil.
  • Nov 23, 2006, 09:10 PM
    caibuadday
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Schmoopdawg
    I originally posted this under heating, but think it might be considered a plumbing question.

    Hi all,

    Here's the short story: I am getting some water coming out of my pressure release valve on my furnace.

    Here's what I know:
    - The pressure release valve only goes off when the system gets to 30 psi, so it seems to be doing it's job.
    - The amount of water released is very consistently the same.
    - The "standing pressure" in the system is about 15 psi, so I'd guess that the pressure reduction valve coming into the system is working (and we even replaced that early on).
    - I thought it might be the expansion tank. I took it off the system and it seems to be holding at 12 psi. It also appears to be the tank recommended for our system. However, just for the heck of it, I did replace the tank with a larger tank, which is preset at 12 psi (I did not confirm it).
    - After we exchanged tanks I do see less water in my bucket in the morning (after the furnace has kicked in)

    I have a two story house. Is my "standing pressure" of 15 psi too high?

    I did discover that my Pressure Reducing Valve (Watts 1156F) can be adjusted, so I brought it down from 15 PSI to 12 PSI. The valve information says to determine vertical feet from THE VALVE to the top of the highest radiator. I was assuming you measured from the furnace. Given that, I'd say I probably go up around 15 vertical feet, which means that even 12 PSI could be a tad too much. Correct?

    Thanks for anything you can offer! This will be my third winter in the house, and I am looking forward to not having to empty the bucket every morning!
    is the make up valve auto or man... may be it is leaking through , at 15 ft height it is about 6.5 lb (15 x 0.433)
  • Nov 24, 2006, 09:40 AM
    Schmoopdawg
    Thanks for the reply. My manual tells me to multipy the height x 0.433 and then add 3 lbs.

    Sorry, not quite following you on the first question about the make up valve. Based on what I am seeing, I believe both my pressure reducing valve (bringing the incoming pressure down to... no... 12 psi) and my pressure release valve (only going off when the pressure surpasses 30 psi) appear to be doing their job. Am I missing a valve?
  • Nov 24, 2006, 02:06 PM
    caibuadday
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Schmoopdawg
    Thanks for the reply. My manual tells me to multipy the height x 0.433 and then add 3 lbs.

    Sorry, not quite following you on the first question about the make up valve. Based on what I am seeing, I believe both my pressure reducing valve (bringing the incoming pressure down to ... no ... 12 psi) and my pressure release valve (only going off when the pressure surpasses 30 psi) appear to be doing their job. Am I missing a valve?
    You have a manual make up then, is there a pressure gauge after the PRV; what it said, is there a valve before the PRV ( if you lucky there is one before and oneafter the PRV)... feed the water as told by the manuf , then shut off the make up, the make up should not feed constantly , unless there is a leak

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