QUESTION FROM joew

My boiler (steam heat) is always getting too much water causing radiators to overflow.I fill per sight glass,could water feed valve be faulty .

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

Dear joew:

Have you tried testing the pressure and operation of your auto-feed valve?

Home-Wizard.com

FOLLOW-UP FROM joew

The boiler is not fed with a auto fill,I manually have to feed it to proper level.Then it gradually overflows radiators.Would a new shut off solve the problem? I cant think of any other way the boiler is getting water .

THANKS

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

Dear joew:

Before you replace your make-up water valve, one other thing to check is your expansion tank on your system.

When a hot water heating system heats up, the water in the system expands, and since it is a closed system, this expanded volume of water has to go somewhere. This is why hot water radiator heating systems have an “expansion tank” that accommodates this additional water volume. If there is a problem with your expansion tank, the water possibly has nowhere to go except out your radiator.

So you might want to check your expansion tank before you replace your water make-up valve. And remember, the water in your system is VERY HOT, so please be careful.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com

FOLLOW-UP FROM joew

I have steam heat.Is there an expansion tank?Thanks again

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD

Dear JoeW:

Here's a link to an article on how to troubleshoot an expansion tank in a steam heating system:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-troubleshoot-a-hot-water-and-steam-distribution-system1.htm

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com