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Author:
masterplummer (MA)
Relief valve was leaking and was badly corroded, so I planned to replace it.
Got the new one on, and it would trip when I tried to refill the system. Discovered that I had inadvertently got a relief valve only rated for 15psi instead of 30psi like the old one.
So my question is, what is the risk in leaving the current 15psi valve on until I can get a 30psi one? Is my boiler under filled with water; do I risk it overheating?
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
The problem is that if the pressure exceeds 15 PSI it will allow the water to escape. 15 PSI is very close to what a lot of boilers run when hot.
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Author:
masterplummer (MA)
Im hoping to get the correct valve in a couple days, so I can deal with a couple blowoffs if thats all it is. I just don't want to risk damaging my boiler if there isn't enough water in it.
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Author:
packy (MA)
the water pressure simply lifts the water to whatever height is needed. if you have a single story house you can run 5 PSI and get away with it. 12 psi would be plenty for 3 stories.
so, don't worry or don't hurry to change the PRV..
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Author:
masterplummer (MA)
Ok good, that is a relief.
On a related note, how do you know during refill when the boiler is full? The only spec I could find on my boiler was that the max psi is 50, but it didnt say anything about cold fill psi, or hot running psi.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
Most boilers are max rated at 30 psi. Are you sure you weren't reading kPa? The boiler is full when your vents have relieved all the air in the system.
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
Most boilers are filled and kept full via automatic fill valve. Factory set at 12 PSI, of course they can be adjusted up or down as needed.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
The "boiler' is full when the pressure, as indicated by the tridicator gauge is adequate to have water at your highest level, HOWEVER, the system is not full until you have water, not air, coming out of the upper level vents.
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
[media.wattswater.com] You ensure you never have a condition that could allow the boiler to dry-fire by installing a low water cutoff.
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