Boiler runs and can burn but not heating house


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Old 03-12-12, 09:07 AM
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relighting pilot light on old boiler, won't stay lit

Ok, so I was working on plumbing stuff and "accidently" turned off the gas to the boiler and water heater...I turned it back on, but low and behold I've got no heat or hot water...

So, I'm guessing pilot lights went out.

So, I've been trying to relight the boiler. There are instructions on the Economite-200 boiler motor assembly thing (leads in to main boiler). I followed them:
- shut off valves to boiler/pilot
- turn up thermostat 5 mins
- turn down thermo to 55 (shutting off motor)
- open valve to pilot
- press red button #1
- hold match in pilot hole
- press red button #2

Here the gas starts up, the match catches gas, but if I pull the match out or release button #2 the pilot seems to go out. (unless the pilot is not directly in that hole? maybe it's lit and I don't see it?)

Any suggestions?

I'm running out of matches...
 

Last edited by qqqsimmons; 03-12-12 at 10:43 AM.
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Old 03-12-12, 11:57 AM
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Ok, I got it lit. I don't think that was the problem. The boiler fired up, heated water up but none of the baseboards got warm. I'll repost

[you didn't need to start a new thread... I merged the two - NJT]
 

Last edited by NJT; 03-12-12 at 02:22 PM.
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Old 03-12-12, 12:01 PM
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Boiler runs and can burn but not heating house

Yesterday, I was shutting off water for some plumbing work and, wrongly, turned off the return water (from heaters) to the boiler without turning off motor/pump or anything. A couple hours later I turned it back on. Since then I've had no heat.

I relit the pilot light. The boiler fired up, heated water up but none of the baseboards got warm.

Any ideas? Could I have busted the pump?
 

Last edited by qqqsimmons; 03-12-12 at 12:47 PM.
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Old 03-12-12, 02:21 PM
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Could I have busted the pump?
It's possible, depending on the pump type.

Do you know if the thermostat had been calling for heat and had the pump been running during the time that you had the valve closed?

Can you tell if the pump is running now?

What is the make and model of the boiler?

Does your boiler also supply domestic hot water to the home?
 
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Old 03-12-12, 04:25 PM
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Thanks for the reply. Obviously I was in over my head. The old boiler is a beaut, National U.S. Sunray IV.

It's working now. Probably a case of user ignorance. Like I had a water valve closed or only partly open.
 
 

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