Circulator making noise? Again

I have a oil burner with an aqua booster (moved into this house a couple months ago). I was periodically having a loud noise that would last about 5-10 minutes at times almost daily. It sounded like the circulator that is off the aqua booster. A plumber came in and replaced it. Two weeks after, the noise (differnt pitch sound but same thing) started again. It sounds like it is the circulator, but I had two bad circulators? Any idea if it could be something else, that is causing the circulator to make this noise? Also, what I've done a couple of times to make the noise stop, is I turn the electical off to the burner system, and then turn it back on. WHen I turn it back on, the noise does not start up again. Also, this noise can be heard throughout the house. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

Please tell us the make and model of the boiler... wait, let me guess... Teledyne LAARS ?

 

Sorry for the delay in getting back to this. My system is an energy kinetics 2000, with an aquabooster made by John Woods- I forget the model, but if that will help just let me know. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

Anyone have ideas on this one? Still happening sporatically- makes me wish I had gas instead of oil.... never really had problems at my previous residence...

 

If swapping the circulator made the sound stop for a couple weeks, it's possible that the circulator is getting air stuck in it, and/or cavitating. That will really do a job on the seals and can induce squeaks and whatnot.

Turning it off and on may allow air to bubble out through the volute over time.

Kinda just guessing. More info on old and new pump models, pics of system piping might help.

 

Gas or Oil... this isn't combustion related... wouldn't make no difference atoll.

You've got an EK... with an 'AquaBooster' ? When I think of aquabooster I think of an add-on doohickey tank that 'helps' the output of domestic water heating coils. Are you sure that what you have isn't in fact an INDIRECT WATER HEATER?

A few suggestions: Give us the make/model of the pump(s). Take some digital pics and set up a free account at Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and upload the pics to a PUBLIC album there. Come back here and give us a link to the album and we'll take a look and see if something jumps out at us... please make the pics IN FOCUS, WELL LIGHTED, and LARGE ENOUGH for old dudes to see without squinting through their spectacles.

 

Thinking about this a bit more... I believe EK uses a Heat Exchanger to feed the water heater, is that correct? If so, then the 'booster' tank would work I think. Basically the same thing as feeding it from a 'thankless' coil.

Presuming that to be the case, and taking Xiphias' cue, if that heat exchanger were partially plugged up with mineral deposits, it could certainly be causing that pump to cavitate...

Here's a link to one of John Woods' product install manual for reference:

http://www.johnwoodwaterheaters.com/...anual%2016.pdf

 

It's been awhile for me to follow up on this... I've been more concerned with two pipes that developed leaks than the noise of the circulator (I think that is what it is). I've taken some photographs to better explain.

The current ciculator I have that is going off the aqua booster is a Grundfos UP15-29SU. Below is a link to a photograph of it:
_DSC7735 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Here is a another angle of the circulator:
_DSC7738 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The previous circulator that was installed was a Taco 006-BT4. The burner system I have is an energy Kentics 2000.

As you can see, the pipe comes out below the booster, turns up and then into the circulator. Before I had this replaced, it came out, into the circulator and then turned up. THe plumber who replaced the circulator said this is how it should be and that is why it was changed.

Don't know if you need, but this is a wider angle of the system:
_DSC7734 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

One other issue I would like to mention. I am noticing a small drip (every 5 minutes??, not sure but very slow) coming from an open pipe, which I believe is a pressure release. I am showing the photo, and I believe it is dripping from the pipe going down on the left side (of the two in the middle of the photo). If you look at the ground, you can see where these is a mark from the last drip. BY the time it dries, another drip occurs. Just noticed it this evening, don't know how long it's been going on. Any ideas what the issue could be? I am likely going to need to call a plumber (since the left pipe comes from the booster, and the booster is not covered in my service contract, I will likely have to find a new plumber to address this issue). Here's the photo:
_DSC7741 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Since it's so slow, I am not overly concerned, but do want it addressed.

There are a couple other photos on that site of the burner system. One shows the other circulator connected to the burner (it's green). I don't believe that is the one making the noise, but also can not guarantee it. But since I replaced the original one off the booster, the noise was different pitch afterwards, and didn't occur until a few weeks or a month later, so more likely it's the one off the booster.

Any advise or guidance, would be greatly appreciated. Again, I'll probably have to call a plumber in, but since the last one didn't have a clue in what he was doing, I rather try to troublshoot it initially on my own.

Thanks in advance.

 

After doing more research, it looks like its the pressure valve off the aqua booster has a very slight leak. I think this has been going on for awhile based on looking at the pipe that runs off it. I am going to have a plumber take a look at it. I am going to mention the noise I hear as well, and hopefully he will have an answer and a repair.

 

Aqua booster? Is this thing pumping domestic water? If so, it needs to be a bronze pump. Anything else will corrode with oxygenated water running through it.

 

The Grundfos in question is stainless steel making it suitable for the application.

The issue here is most likely caused by dirt accumulation in the boiler waterway. Clean the system with a good boiler cleaner. Many times trisodium phosphate will do the job within 1-2 weeks.

 

Thanks for the responses. I am planning on having a plumber come this week to repair the slight leak and will mentioned the below. Thanks again!