lee459•1mo ago

Tackling a tricky pressure reading on an old industrial boiler

Honestly, I was on site yesterday and the pressure gauge on this vintage boiler kept showing low readings at startup. Tbh, I traced it back to a stuck relief valve that wasn't seating right after overnight cooling. Ngl, how do you guys handle maintenance on older units with similar quirks?

3 comments

3 Comments

gibson.holly1mo ago

Try tapping the valve body gently with a soft mallet during cold starts to help it seat. After that, I always look for corrosion on the seat that might need a light cleaning.

the_riley1mo ago

How often do you clean the seats?

emeryk511mo ago

Wait, you traced it to a stuck relief valve after just one night? That's wild because I've seen those valves get stuck from years of gunk buildup, not overnight cooling. For example, on a similar old boiler at my last site, the relief valve was so corroded it needed a full replacement after sitting for months. A quick tap with a mallet would have done nothing. How often do you check the seat for pitting or scale? Sometimes the metal just wears out and won't seal right no matter what you do.