[abaker]

Here's the deal:
Have seen a slow but sure loss of hot water pressure in the five plus years we have been in the house.
Water source is a well, so lime and minerals are likely to blame.
Pipes are copper.
Water is heated through the furnace, a Smith (Westcast) 8 Series boiler-burner unit.
We must regularily clean aerators and shower heads, so we know about the minerals in our water. What can I do to bring my pressure back up? Am assuming that the furnace has a drain. Is that the ticket? Most of the other advice I found here concerned water heaters, so did not know whether the same applies to a furnace.

Have seen some great advice in this forum, so I thought one of you might be able to help me get a decent shower again.
Thanks in advance for your help.
:o
Al

[speedball1]

Hi Al,

The easiest way would be to up the pressure in the pumps control box. Would you like instructions on how to do this? Any water tank that stores water should be flushed to remove mineral build up. Boilers are no exception. But I got to tell you. I'm a Flordia plumber. I've never worked around heating systems. So if your next question deals with a hotwater heating system I'm going to hafta let one of my Yankee friends answer you. Good luck, Tom

[abaker]

Tom:
Yeah, I thought about upping the pressure, but knowing the mineral content of my water, I figured I ought to address that. Otherwise, I think I am just postponing the inevitable. I would appreciate some guidance on boosting pressure, in case I decide to go that way. What part of the control box do I tweak? How much pressure is too much pressure?
Thanks,
Al

[speedball1]

Good morning Al,

Let's work on the pressure first. I'm going to assume that you have a "square D pumptrol, (see image) and that it has a 20 PSI cut in and a 40 PSI cut off setting. First turnoff the power at the breaker box, then pull the cover off the pressure switch and you will see two spring loaded bolts secured with nylon nuts. One tall, one short. To increase the cut in pressure, turn the nut on the tall bolt down. To increase the cut out pressure,(that's the one that will give you more pressure) turn the nut on the short bolt down. This should give you the additional pressure you desire. You may boost your pressure up to 60/65 PSI,however if you have mineral buildup in your pipes cutting back on the volume you might run out of water. You must have both pressure and volume for the system to work. Good luck, Tom