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[Holeshot]

I'm such a green horn here. Have a fire cooking in the burner and the pipe coming in is 90 degrees and goes in to a  small white box that is hot to touch. pipe from bottom goes to heat plate exchanger that is cold  Also has a small copper line that goes to water heater. all other lines to the in door boiler are cold and all valves are open.

The burner is set to damp at 160 degrees but the temp gauge says 200 and I am steaming out the top near the chimney, Do I need to add water and antifreeze in that vent on top. 

Any help is appreciated .

[hondaracer2oo4]

Welcome to the board! First off is the owb full of water? Whatever way you utilize to fill the unit you should open up until water flows out of the overflow. Get that set first and then we can figure out why your only have 90 degree water coming into the house.

[Holeshot]

can I fill it with straight water in these freezing temps ? I don't have boiler antifreeze here but can run to town to pick some up.


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[RSI]

Is the pump running and have you tried to make sure it isn't airlocked?

Most people just run straight water. If you aren't sure what is in the boiler now, I would find out before adding any anti-freeze. If it is straight water now, it will just be a waste of money to add a few gallons.

[Holeshot]

Im gonna take a shot and fill it with water. What do you recommend. I have soft water how much should I add ? 5 or 10 gallons or until it overflows the top vent?

[RSI]

If I remember right, Johnson used a hose for the water gauge. (been a while since I looked at one so might be wrong)
Is there a short piece of hose the control box? If so, fill it to about the middle of that to start.

You can also just fill it till it overflows.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Most don't run any antifreeze. Was the stove unused before you fired it up in the cold? If so and the water is flowing then it is possible that the boiler is filled with antifreeZe. Does anyone know what that white box that the water goes through is for?

[Holeshot]

Well I found a 1 inch brass valve in the off position under the insulation on the back of the burner house. It runs up to the pump.The valve is cracked from freezing and the pump is burnt out.  Guess we are done until next year. Gives me time to collect wood and money for parts. I found the pump for a few hundred and the 1 inch ball valves are cheap.
I just dont think I can salvage anything this winter.  Saying hello to $500 a month propane bills for this old house.

Thanks for your replies and Merry Christmas to all of you. I will continue to read and learn form this forum.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Holeshot, Not sure how deep your lines are buried but they may be below the frost line. You may be able to get things thawed out since only the first couple feet of the lines may be frozen from where they leave the burner to where they go down into the ground. You could try disconnecting them at the burner and at the house and blowing through them with compressed air.

[baldwin racing]

Holeshot, Not sure how deep your lines are burred but they may be below the frost line. You can be able to get things thawed out since only the first couple feet of the lines may be frozen from where they leave the burner to where they go down into the ground. You could try disconnecting them at the burner and at the house and blowing through them with compressed air.

Honda racer is right....maybe you can luck out....when my outdoor one was bad I filled my lines with rv antifreeze (cheep) until I got my indoor model....you may be able to heat lines and thaw....if that's the case you can get here fired up....to save 500 a month in propane....cheeper to buy a pump and valve with little time you may be able to run it....try a heat gun, propane tourch don't hold in one place....or a salamander...

kelly

[RSI]

So, it the boiler empty now? What model is the pump that is on it?

Where are you located?

[Holeshot]

We are in Northern Il south of Rockford its a  Grundfos Super Brute pump three speed with check valve. The burner has about 15 gallons of water in it Gotta get a valve for it. Its been in the very low teens here lately

[RSI]

If you need help to get it going, let me know.

[Holeshot]

Hi folks back from the dead lol
 I just finished putting in new pump and cracked values. Filled the top with water and have started the burnner. Pump is running and all valves are open. I have water backing oit of the top. Is this normal. I filled the boiler till water came oit the top

 

[Crow]

 Sounds like with the temperature of the water increasing it is just pushing the excess out the vent. Are you getting heat in the house now?