Another valuable lesson learned this past Wednesday. I went in the morning out to the furnace and checked the fire in the box. Fire was still going, although the wood was pretty much spent, yet the cos were still red and hot. I thought I would check the water level as it had been a few days since. So off I go to the mechanical room in the lower level. turn on the water feed and turn around and go back out side. WHAT THE HELL I hear a gushing of water....and the water is gushing out of the rear of the OWB!!! Well, ya know that water level site glass folks said to put on the Shavers? Seems (now don't tell me you guys haven't had this happen to you...I won't for one minute think that I'm the only one this has happened to) ....seems that one SHOULD remove that when the temps get really cold...as it was that morning down to 25!
That top plate in the rear of the Shaver furnaces where Shaver says you should seal with silicone? Well thank goodness that's where the water came out of....the least resistant area and it WAS sealed.
I immediately grabbed a screw driver and removed the clear tube and elbow and set it aside. Removed the top rear panel of the furnace to gain better access to the top plate and pulled the insulation from the top area. Yes it was a wee bit damp. Placed towels on the top plate to completely dry the area, then I went in with a knife and cut away all the silicone. Had to drain about 12" off water off the top so that the silicone would adhere...long story short...we were back in business again.
So now, I still have to put a bit more water back in the tank, but the site glass( tube) is off. Whew! I almost had a really bad situation on my hands. What do you fellows with the site glass do in the winter? Leave the tube off?
Lugnut....still learning.