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Costly E2300 boilover

Started by firechief, December 03, 2012, 07:56:49 AM

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firechief

Its been a warm couple of days here in Northern Indiana with the temperatures reaching the mid 60's yesterday.  The E Classic 2300 has been running great for the past two weeks since I fired it up.
Well with the weather being so warm I went out yesterday early afternoon to see how my fire if any was doing.  I noticed a small glow in the back corner so I knew I had at least something.  I decided to just crack the door open just to give it some air to stoke it up a bit. As one thing led to another, I proceeded to start hanging Christmas decorations in the front of the house.

About 30 minutes later my son comes running into the front yard "dad, theres something wrong with the OWB".  As I turned the corner my unit was spitting water out the top and the temperature reading on the guage was 213.  I immediately shut the door and after a few minutes the water had stopped and just some steam was coming out.  This was not my first boilover over the last four years so I really thought nothing of it. I checked the water level and it looked like it was still up to full and I didn't lose much. After taking many, many hours to get back down to the 190 level things seemed to be back to normal, so I thought.

On October 13th I installed a new high efficiency gas water heater.  I noticed that the control panel was blinking and had an error code on it.  After reading thru the manual I finally realized what had happened, I'm assuming from the boilover.
My high temperature limit switch had reached over its limit of 195 degrees and shut down my water heater.  As my manual states "if activated, requires complete replacement of the entire gas control valve/thermostat". These are single use switches only. I'll make some calls this morning just to see how costly my boilover will be. In the mean time, our hot water supply still seems to be sufficient for showers, laundry, etc. Not a good day for my mistake.

doctorb

Just like a car that's overheating, you can turn on the heat in your house to dissipate the heat from your OWB much quicker.  Open the windows and crank up the thermostat.  Then you would not have to wait hours to get the problem settled. 
My father once said, "This is my son who wanted to grow up and become a doctor.  So far, he's only become a doctor."

firechief

doctorb
That was actually my first thought but since the house was already at 72 I was in no real hurry to crank up the heat. Still awaiting the call back for my part.  Thanks

NWP

My Heatmor got hot one time due to the fan flapper getting a piece of something stuck in it.  I turned on the air conditioner so I had cool air blowing across the exchangers.  It will cool it down quick that way.
1999 Blockbuster 2222, 1997 Duratech HD10, 2021 Kubota SVL97-2, 2011 Case SV250, 2000 Case 1845C, 2004 Case 621D, John Deere 540A, 2011 Freightliner with Prentice 120C, 2012 Chevrolet, 1997 GMC bucket truck, several trailers, and Stihl saws.

Slabs

Info probably doesn't apply here but I've got a overtemp thermostat on Ol' Smokey that turns on a circulator to dissipate the heat into the house.  It's a modified water heater thermostat that has been "tweaked" up to about 202 degrees.  Smokes is a closed system under pressure so boiling temp is higher and goes higher with increased pressure from temperature climb.  I start out at 10# and reach about 15# at 200 degrees.  Also have a bit of glycol in the system that helps some more.  A warning horn for overtemp could be useful also.

Another totally useless tidbit of trivia:  Each pound of pressure on a closed system elevates the boiling point 3.44 degrees F.  10# = 246 degrees boiling and 15# = 263.6.
Slabs  : Offloader, slab and sawdust Mexican, mill mechanic and electrician, general flunky.  Woodshop, metal woorking shop and electronics shop.

thecfarm

I had that in my other house with my indoor boiler. I could kinda hear  the water really start to move thorugh the lines and knew it was close to a boil over. But my own fault,I would try to burn some dead stuff in it. Just could not smother the fire out the way the Heatmor does.
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

firechief

Finally talked to the manufacturer today.  Told them over the phone I needed a new gas control valve/thermostat for my water heater. She asked for my serial number and told me they would ship a new part to me overnight and would have delivered to my house by tomorrow, no questions asked. Just a matter of me popping out the old and replacing with the new. For my mistake, think I lucked out on this one but a good lesson learned anyway.

clww

Many Stihl Saws-16"-60"
"Go Ask The Other Master Chief"
18-Wheeler Driver

stumper

A heat dump circuit can be installed on an outdoor boiler as well.  If you are plagued by repeated or costly boil overs it may be something to consider.  In 4 years I have had one due to a malfunction.  I considered it then but money is tight so I did not even price it out.

thecfarm

Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

Logging logginglogging

Do these boilovers cause any damage to the OWB. I have never had one and hope i never do.

thecfarm

I only had one with my Heatmor and that was my first time with something getting stuck in the flapper as NWP said. I just happened to walk by it and saw water coming out of the top. I think this was in early fall. Did not need all that much heat. I turned on all of the zones and that brought it down fast. I think I only had one on at the time. But I saw more smoke than normal coming out of the stack when it was on idle and did not realize what was going on. Even though I was told this by the dealer and was shown what to do.  ::) With my model no damage would be done,as long as I re-filled it with water. I did not lose much water. I doubt 10 gallons. The ground was not soaking wet around it.
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

gspren

  Many years ago we had a pressurized Indoor wood fired boiler that hooked up to the oil boiler just like our OWB and one day the control went bad and kept blowing air while the pressure relief was blowing steam. The wife came out looking for me and said the stove was going crazy so I shut off the power and carried a few pieces of wood out the door with a shovel, she was so scared and upset that that was the last fire in that stove. I explained that the steam blowing out was a safety device and there was no danger but she was scared of the stove and didn't like the smell anyway so now we have the OUTDOOR boiler.
Stihl 041, 044 & 261, Kubota 400 RTV, Kubota BX 2670, Ferris Zero turn

firechief

This is my 4th year with my OWB and had a boilover the very first time I fiiled it with water due to the fact I had over filled it somewhat.  Have not had any problems until my flub this past weekend.

Stopped at home this morning around 10:30 and sitting on the front porch was the replacement valve. Since my OWB is providing enough hot water for all 5 of us, I'll probably wait til the weekend to replace the valve.

woodmills1

my boil over

I worry about my stove when the electricity goes off

the circulator wont work so I worry about it freezing

I could drain it but such a pain

so..........I rigged a half extension cord wired into the stove and plugged into my tacomas outlet in the bed

I keep a small fire going and go out and start the tacoma to circulate the heated water every few hours

also get warm in the tacoma since no heat in the house with elec off




:D  fell asleep in the warm tacoma and dang near boiled the stove dry
James Mills,Lovely wife,collect old tools,vacuuming fool,36 bdft/hr,oak paper cutter,ebonic yooper rapper nauga seller, Blue Ox? its not fast, 2 cat family, LT70,edger, 375 bd ft/hr, we like Bob,free heat,no oil 12 years,big splitter, baked stuffed lobster, still cuttin the logs dere IAM

Logging logginglogging

can you run the circulator off the truck as well?

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