Posted by Harold Kestenholz - Hydronic Network on January 09, 2000 at 14:59:45:
In Reply to: Steam-Pressure Question posted by Frank on January 09, 2000 at 12:20:13:
If your gauge is correct and the steam pressure doesn't rise, all the steam produced by the boiler is being used up by the radiation. As the upstairs usually has a higher heat loss and the radiation would be larger to satusfy that heat demand, it is possible that the boiler is not producing enough steam to fill the system and produce heat everywhere. This would cause the burner to run all the time without raising steam pressure and produce high bills. You do not say if this is a new occurrence or has always happened. In either case you want someone to check the fuel input rate and combustion efficiency.
The settings of the pressure controls are in the area they need to be. The first floor seems to be working properly. Depending upon the size of the fire, the pressure will eventually reach the 1.75 pressure setting and shut off the burner if the thermostat is not satisfied. Then the heat in the radiators will continue to heat the house until the boiler pressure drops to fire the burner again. This will happen until the thermostat is satisfied. You do not say which fuel you use or what the fuel use is.