Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: Firechaser on September 29, 2011, 02:30:17 PM

Title: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: Firechaser on September 29, 2011, 02:30:17 PM: Help I can't figure this one. I fill the boiler until its barely reading add but then when I heat it overflows. When it cools its way down again. Do I only use the gauge when hot?
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: fireboss on September 29, 2011, 02:35:21 PM: there is something probly wrong with your gauge!
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: RSI on September 29, 2011, 04:15:22 PM: I would just fill it, let it overflow. Then when it cools off just remember where it is and use that as the cold full mark. Water expands quite a bit and you can't have it right both hot and cold.
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: martyinmi on September 29, 2011, 04:23:04 PM: Quote from: Firechaser on September 29, 2011, 02:30:17 PM
Help I can't figure this one. I fill the boiler until its barely reading add but then when I heat it overflows. When it cools its way down again. Do I only use the gauge when hot?
You are doing it right Tony. Our Optimizer 250's do the exact same thing. Once you get it up to 175* or so then adjust your fill. If it did not come preset that high, I'd move it up if I were you(175* off). My Empyre 100 does the same thing.
Are you pretty happy with your P&M so far?
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: oldchenowth on September 29, 2011, 06:03:37 PM: Wood Doctor freaked me out the first time too. I let her get to temp and then adjusted my happy medium mark. Had a regular fountain when it was coming up to temp. Now it runs like a champ, guess I was unprepared for exactly how much expansion really took place.
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: Firechaser on September 29, 2011, 06:21:18 PM: Ok thanks all. I am very happy with my P&M so far but I haven't been through a winter yet. It looks well built.
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: willieG on September 29, 2011, 06:32:08 PM: Quote from: oldchenowth on September 29, 2011, 06:03:37 PM
Wood Doctor freaked me out the first time too. I let her get to temp and then adjusted my happy medium mark. Had a regular fountain when it was coming up to temp. Now it runs like a champ, guess I was unprepared for exactly how much expansion really took place.

200 gallons of water at 55 degrees F and heated to 180 F will increase in volume by about 5 1/4 gallons
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: Bull on September 30, 2011, 06:40:53 AM: Quote from: willieG on September 29, 2011, 06:32:08 PM
200 gallons of water at 55 degrees F and heated to 180 F will increase in volume by about 5 1/4 gallons

WOW I didn't realize that water expanded that much.
Title: Re: Ml 30 boil over
Post by: Airgap on October 05, 2011, 07:56:18 AM: I've seen water heaters where people have plugged a dripping relief valve, swell up on the ends like a balloon.

There's a reason for reliefs, and there's a reason they drip or pop off...