0

I have a dual-energy system set up like in figure 5/page 11 of this manual When the system switches to gas (at -12C outside temp), I'm getting a banging sound in the gas boiler at the end of the cycle. I think what is happening is that the water is "stuck" in the exchanger and boiling; it takes a few seconds for the aquastat to sense that the water is at temperature and stop the boiler.

Here is what I have observed:

  • If the circulating pump is running, there is no banging at the end of the cycle. But, as you can see from the diagram, the circulating pump and thermostat are connected to the electric boiler. When the thermostat calls for heat when the system is on gas mode, it simply starts the circulating pump. The gas boiler doesn't know anything about this. The gas boiler only starts when the water temperature falls below the temperature set on the aquastat.
  • The aquastat does appear to be working. If I roll it back to 120 degrees from 180 degrees, there is a long wait until it turns on. From what I can see, it is a simple aquastat -- just a dial with the temp in F.

Edit

  • Perhaps the aquastat is not working properly. If I set it at 120F and the burner fires without the circulating pump turned on, it will start banging. I think this is steam being created. It seems that the aquastat should turn the burner off as soon as senses 120F. ON the other hand, the burner does turn off after some banging... I'm not sure if this is the aquastat turning off or something else.

Here is the manual for the gas boiler

I'm not sure how to troubleshoot this further (air in the system? check valve?)

Edit 2 d.george's answer led me to a solution. There is no flow-switch installed and there probably should be. The gas boiler instructions clearly state that water should be circulating when the burner is firing. So I stuck a relay in between the thermostat and the circulating pump connection, putting the contact side in the gas boiler thermostat loop (shown in red below). enter image description here

Improve this question
2
  • Has it always made the banging sound? When was the gas boiler last serviced? It appears that section 1.1 of the maintenance schedule can be done without disconnecting any gas connections, but if in any doubt at all then get a qualified engineer to inspect it. If there is a build-up of soot in the heat exchanger it can make strange sounds.
    – Andrew Morton
    Dec 11, 2018 at 10:36
  • I bought the house earlier this year so I haven't had much experience with it. In addition, it only uses the gas boiler when it is -12C or colder, so it doesn't get used a whole lot. I cleaned the baffles out as instructed in Maintenance 1.1 a couple of months ago. There was no soot.
    – Michael C
    Dec 11, 2018 at 19:41

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

Unless you are getting your electricity at a price that is cheaper than the natural gas used in the boiler, I see no need for the electric boiler. I am not familiar with this make of boiler so my writing is on how I feel the units should perform. In the instruction manual they mentioned an optional control that can modulate the gas input from 50% to 100% of the full input that would or could make the boiler more efficient and save on operating cost. Since I am not physically there, to check the control wiring of the 2 units, I must assume that when the gas boiler is firing the electric boiler is shut down, if they are wired that way. That being said there should be a device that keeps the pump running long enough to rid the boiler of excess heat. I am assuming that this unit is a coil boiler and those boilers usually have a flow switch in the boiler's piping to insure water flow before the boiler is allowed to fire and a delay relay to insure that the excess heat is removed before the pump shuts down. You did not mention if this a new installation with a problem that you are observing or if is an older installation with a new problem. More information may be needed to properly give a proper answer. Hope this helps

Improve this answer
2
  • There is not any flow switch in the configuration, however I did notice that the diagram (Figure 5/page 11 in first link) does specify an Aquastat with a high and low limit. My aquastat is simple, only one temperature to set. I'm wondering if the aquastat is not stopping the burner fast enough. Even when I set it at 120F, which is nowhere close to boiling, it starts boiling and banging when the circulating pump is not on.
    – Michael C
    Dec 11, 2018 at 20:43
  • To answer your question, yes, I do get electricity at a rate lower than gas, except when the temperature drops below -12C, in which case, the price of electricity rises 5 times.
    – Michael C
    Dec 11, 2018 at 20:45

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.