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HEATING SYSTEMS
ANTI SCALD VALVES
BOILERS, HEATING
CARBON MONOXIDE/DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE WARNING
CHIMNEY INSPECTIONS
CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe
DRAFT HOODS - gas fired
DRAFT REGULATORS - barometric dampers
DUCT SYSTEMS
DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper
DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe
DUST FROM HVAC?
ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT
FURNACES
GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
GAUGES ON HEATING EQUIPMENT
HEAT LOSS INDICATORS
HEATING COST SAVINGS
HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-BOILERS
HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-FURNACES
HEATING OIL CLOUD WAX GEL POINT
HEATING OIL SLUDGE
HEATING SYSTEM INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
INSULATION
MIXING VALVES
NO HEAT - BOILER / FURNACE DIAGNOSIS
OIL BURNERS
OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS
OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
OIL TANK LEAKS
OIL TANK SLUDGE
OIL TANKS, BURIED
PLASTIC HEATER VENT
RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid
RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves
Safety Recalls
BLUERAY Recall
CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite
Goodman HTPV RECALL
Lennox WARNING
Weil McLain RECALL
SAFETY DURING HEATING INSPECTION
SPILL SWITCHES - Flue Gas Detection
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Indoor Surfaces
STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS
Cad Cell Relay Switch Flame Sensors
Mixing Valves
Relief Valves - TP Valves
Sight Glass, Steam Boiler
Pressure Switch, Steam Boiler
Spill Switches
Stack Relay Switch
Steam Vents
LOW WATER CUTOFF CONTROLS
WATER FEEDER VALVES
TANKLESS COILS
THERMAL TRACKING
THERMOSTATS
Transite Pipe Chimneys & Flues
ZONE VALVES
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- How to identify, inspect, and use controls and gauges on residential steam heating systems
- Pressure and Temperature Gauges on Steam Heating Boilers - Troubleshooting & Repair Guide
- Troubleshooting steam heating system boiler controls and switches
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Here we provide an inspection and repair guide to Steam Heating System Controls. You will also see that
this website answers most questions about Heating System Boiler Controls on central heating systems to aid in troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs.
Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.
© Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.
Safety Devices on a Steam Heating Boiler Include These
The sight glass is just one of the safety devices found on a steam boiler, which will also include a pressure/temperature relief valve, almost always a low water cutoff valve, a Hartford Loop (to prevent loss of water out of the boiler by siphoning out of boiler water from a piping leak), and on many modern residential steam systems, an automatic water feeder valve may also be installed.
Photo Guide to the Steam Boiler Sight Glass
 The sight glass on a steam boiler is an important safety and operating device since it allows the homeowner or inspector to see at a glance when the steam boiler is low on water.
Steam systems use varying amounts of water.
Unlike a hydronic heating boiler, some of the water in the steam boiler is lost through the building's radiator steam vents at each heating cycle.
Just how much water the steam boiler will lose varies widely depending on a number of factors.
But if a heating boiler loses its water without also being shut down it will certainly be damaged by the heat of the oil or gas burner (or coal or wood), and it could lead to a dangerous explosion or fire.
If your steam boiler has an automatic water feeder, you should still check the water level (and clarity) in the sight glass frequently, but the risk of a ruined boiler from lost water is of course much less.
Photo Guide to the Steam Boiler Pressure Control Safety Switch
 The pressure control switch on a steam heating boiler is designed to shut the heating system down should unsafe high pressures develop.
As we repeat at our description of pressure gauges on a steam boiler, residential steam heating systems are almost always designed to operate at very low pressures, perhaps around .5 psi - that' s 1/2 of one psi.
You should see similar settings on the pressure gauge (at left in our photograph) and on the steam pressure control switch (the gray box at right in our photo) on your boiler.
Photo Guide to Steam Boiler Low Water Cutoff Valves
Here's a photo of a LWCO on a steam boiler.
More photos and details about low water cutoff valves on steam boilers can be read at LOW WATER CUTOFF CONTROLS
Photo Guide to Steam Boiler Automatic Water Feeders
Above are photographs of a couple of different but still modern automatic water feeder valves on a steam boiler.
Here we show the "manual feed" button which can be found on the automatic water feeder in the photo at above left.
More water feeders and information can be found at WATER FEEDER VALVES
Guide to Relief Valves on Steam Boilers
Low pressure steam boilers still require a pressure/temperature safety relief valve. However the valve operates at different temperatures and pressures than found on a hydronic (hot water heating) boiler.
- details in process .
Guide to Steam Vents on Residential Heating Systems
 - details in process .
Guide to Condensate Return Systems on Residential Steam Heating Systems
- details in process .
Steam Boiler Pressure Gauge and Normal Pressure Ranges
 Pressure and Temperature gauge on steam heating boilers: Residential steam heating systems are almost always designed to operate at very low pressures, perhaps around .5 psi - that' s 1/2 of one psi.
You should see similar settings on the pressure gauge (at left in our photograph) and on the steam pressure control switch (the gray box at right in our photo) on your boiler.
More about gauges on heating equipment can be read at GAUGES ON HEATING EQUIPMENT
How to Identify, Reset, or Adjust Hot Water Heating Boiler or Steam Boiler Controls and Switches
For details about the controls, components and switches commonly found on hot water heating systems see the articles listed below in which we explain how to identify, set, re-set, repair, replace, or avoid problems with the components of a hot water heating system. Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
- Hot Water Heating Boiler Operating Details - 39 Steps to Hot Water Heating Success
- Air Bleeder Valves for Hot Water Heating Systems: Radiators, Baseboards, Convectors
- Aquastats Heating Boiler Primary Controls: A guide to Aquastatus for control of hot water heating boilers and tankless coils
- Cad Cell Relays on oil fired furnaces or boilers as flame sensors & safety devices
- Check Valves Guide to check valves and backflow preventers on hydronic (hot water) heating systems (gas or oil fired)
- Circulator Pumps Guide to circulator pumps and circulator relays on hydronic (hot water) heating systems (gas or oil fired)
- Draft Hoods on gas fired heating equipment, function and safety
- Draft Regulators & barometric dampers on oil fired heating equipment
- Electrical Power Switches: Where to Turn On or Off Heaters for Furnaces & Boilers, Heat Pumps or Electric Furnaces or Air Conditioners
- Expansion Tanks Guide to pressure control and expansion tanks on hydronic (hot water) heating systems (gas or oil fired)
- Flue Gas Spill Switch on gas fired heating equipment sense combustion and protect from blocked flues
- Gas Piping, Valves, Controls: Guide to LP and natural gas meters, valves, tanks, piping, gas leaks, gas regulator assembly & other gas controls
- Gauges for Temperature & Pressure: Guide Temperature & Pressure Gauges on Hot Water or Steam Heating Boilers
- Low Water Cutoff Controls: Guide to LWCOs on hot water heating systems
- Mixing Valves: Guide to mixing valves on hot water heating systems and radiant heat systems
- Oil Burners: Guide to Oil Burners for heating systems, boilers & Furnaces: basic parts, operation, maintenance, performance & money-saving tips
- Oil Tanks: Guide to Heating Oil Underground & Above ground Oil Storage Tank Leaks, Testing, Problems & Solutions, Home Buyer's / Home Owner's Guide
- Oil Piping: A guide to heating oil piping, valves, controls, leaks, repairs for heating systems
- Parts & Components Guide for Heating Boilers: How to Identify the Components of Hot Water Heating Boilers - A Guide to Hydronic Heating System Parts
- Relief Valves - TP Valves: A guide to temperature and pressure relief valves & safety controls on hot water and steam heating systems
- Stack Relay Switches: Guide to finding, resetting, maintaining stack relays on oil fired furnaces or boilers as flame sensors & safety devices
- Tankless Coils: A Guide to tankless coils used to produce domestic hot water on heating boilers: hot water quantity, safety, temperature control, leaks, corrosion, repairs
- Thermostats & Heat Controls for furnaces & boilers, oil & gas fired, heat pumps or electric furnaces or boilers
- Water Feed Valves: A guide to water-feeding/pressure-reducing valves on hot water and steam heating systems
- Zone Valves: A guide to zone valves for heating zone control on hot water heating systems
Technical Reviewers
Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to
the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.
- Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia © Website
- Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.
Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
More expert information on this topic
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HEATING SYSTEMS
HEATING SYSTEM INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
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More Information on Inspecting and Repairing Heating Systems
- Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity
- Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
- Dust from HVAC? An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
- Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
- Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
- Inspection Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Systems Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
- Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
- Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
- Oil Tanks Above Ground, UL Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
- Plastic Heating Vent Pipe & Other Heating Safety Recall Notices
- Weil McLain Model GV Gas Boiler/gas valve CPSC recall/repair
- Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners, Charles H. Burkhardt, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York 3rd Ed 1969.
- National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
- The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
- Principles of Steam Heating, $13.25 includes postage. Fuel oil & Oil Heat Magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004.
- The Lost Art of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, 516-579-3046 FAX
- Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
- "Residential Steam Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
- "Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
- "Warm Air Heating Systems". Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
- Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Volume I, Heating Fundamentals,
- Boilers, Boiler Conversions, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23389-4 (v. 1) Volume II, Oil, Gas, and Coal Burners, Controls, Ducts, Piping, Valves, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23390-7 (v. 2) Volume III, Radiant Heating, Water Heaters, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Air Cleaners, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23383-5 (v. 3) or ISBN 0-672-23380-0 (set) Special Sales Director, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY
- Installation Guide for Residential Hydronic Heating Systems
- Installation Guide #200, The Hydronics Institute, 35 Russo Place, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
- The ABC's of Retention Head Oil Burners, National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, TM 115, National Old Timers' Association of the Energy Industry, PO Box 168, Mineola, NY 11501. (Excellent tips on spotting problems on oil-fired heating equipment. Booklet.)
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