Replies

1. 
   Norman | Apr 24, 2012 02:29pm | #1

   Time to bleed?

   Have you bled the air out of the system? A common source of such noises.

2. 
   KDESIGN | Apr 24, 2012 04:01pm | #2

   Diagnosis

   Put one end of a  2-3 ft. stick of wood against the fittings coming right out of the boiler, and the other end against your ear.  See if you can determine that the sounds are originating inside of the boiler.  If they are, from a distance, the boiler noise can sound like it is originating in the pipes because it reverberates through them from the boiler.  So the first step is to see if the sound is coming out of the boiler heat exchanger.

   How old would you estimate the boiler is?

   Does the house have soft water?

3. 
   DanH | Apr 24, 2012 07:36pm | #3

   Basically, there are three causes:

   1. Air in the system

   2. Pipes expanding/contacting with temperature

   3. Hard water deposits in the boiler

   1 & 2 can make noise anywhere in the system.  #3 will make noise only in the vicinity of the boiler.

   Frankly, the best solution is to simply learn to ignore it.  Most people, after 2-3 weeks, will no longer notice most of the noises (and, in fact, will become anxious if they unconsciously sense that the noise has stopped).

   Other than that, you can get the system checked up and bled.  And you or the service guy may be able to find individual pipes that are creaking and place plastic slides under them.

1. 
   KDESIGN | Apr 25, 2012 12:26pm | #4

   Boiler Minerals

   As I mentioned in an earlier thread, my boiler is making noise.  I described the noise to Weil-McClain, and they told me it was mineral deposits in the boiler.  They referred to it as "tea pot" sound.  They said it must be subjected to an acid cleaning, using muratic acid at 5%.  They have a bulletin on their website describing the procedure.

   I talked to every plumber I could find about doing this work for me, and I got a hostile reaction from every one of them.  All refused to even consider doing the cleaning.  All said it would damage the boiler.  Some said a boiler cannot make that kind of noise or even get mineral deposits. 

   The way my boiler sounds, I could easily conclude that the sound is from pipe moving from expansion.  When listening ro the boiler with a stick, I can hear a continuous crackling fry sound like bacon frying.  Every second or so, the crackle is accented by a louder "pop" sound.   That pop sound reverberates all through the pipes.  In the upper level, all I hear is that pop sound every second or so.  That sounds exactly like pipes shifting in their hangers.  So I have to listen to the boiler to realize where the sound is actually coming from. 

   I can live with the sound.  It is the loudest when the boiler begins to fire after being cooled down.  Weil-McClain says the mineral deposits are trap water and produce superheated steam that bursts out of the deposits.  They say this will accelerate the wear of the heat exchanger.  So I indend to take the boiler out of the system and do the acid washing myself this summer.

1. 
   Norman | Apr 25, 2012 02:04pm | #5

   Or....

   Pester Weil McClain for a local dealer of theirs who will perform this service.

1. 
   KDESIGN | Apr 25, 2012 02:39pm | #6

   I have asked them three different times for a reference to someone who can do the work for me.  Non of their references worked on boilers or would recommend anyone else who does.  I will learn as much as I can about this acid cleaning and just do it myself.  If it is during the summer, I should have plenty of time to deal with the problem. 

   It seems to me that there ought to be a way to control the water quality in the loop in a way that prevents this mineral problem.  After all, it is a closed system and we are only talking about 10-15 gallons max.  If it cost $100 to make that water perfect, it would be far cheaper than this mineral removal rigamarole. 

1. 
   Norman | Apr 25, 2012 04:00pm | #7

   Or you could try

   heatinghelp.com for a contractor in your area. These guys tend to be very good.

2. 
   marktheshark | Apr 26, 2012 08:27am | #8

   Thanks to all who responded.  We did have a guy come and changed the "expansion tank and the pop-off valve and bled the system.  Noises to me sound like expansion contraction noises in the pipes themselves, but I will try the stick stethoscope method.  We have in house water softener.  cracking sounds are loudest, to me, at some corners where the pipes exit one wall and make a 90 degree bend into the run of register.  Could the holes in the wall be too small?  And Dan H mentioned placing plastic slides between pipes.  Where can I get these slides?  Thanks to all. 

1. 
   DanH | Apr 26, 2012 08:47am | #9

   The plastic slides you have to invent yourself, for the most part.  There are grommets intended for use in metal framing, etc, but they only fit certain scenarios.

   I'd get a flexible plastic cutting board (the type that rolls up) at Target or whereever and cut it into strips to slip under the pipes.