How To Replace Boiler Sight Glass

I am replacing a steam boiler sight glass. The glass is extremely dirty. I take a glass sight glass tube and cut it to size. Next, I put the nut, compression ring, and new washer. Afterward, I hand tighten the sight glass nuts. Finally, I fill the boiler and verify the sight glass nuts and washers created a tight seal.

[@jameswoltal2030]

Doing what you just explained you will not know if that top GG washer is leaking until you make steam. A better way is to close the top gauge glass valve. If you start to fill the boiler and no water comes up in the glass the washer is doing its job. If water appears in the glass the washer isn't sealing. One of those things you learned in 6-grade science class, 2 things can't occupy the same space at the same time.

[@johnguerrero4305]

Hacker just a heads up, another name for the flat washer is the friction ring. I like to use leather gloves when snapping the glass. Keep up the great work!!

[@RayRay-nb7tn]

Very nice on cutting the sight gas. Not always easy cutting the glass. Time to flush it out.

[@williegillie5712]

Glad to see ya hackster. I always learn a little from each video I watch. Keep them coming.

[@Eddy63]

Good little quickie Hackster ...

[@thehvachacker]

The rest of this job is coming. Yet felt I wanted a video on cutting the sight glass since many struggle with this.

[@edjovi3677]

Bill great. Job. Was. Fun to see. Someone that knows what. There doing. Edbonjovi. Aka. Leak master plumbing

[@Ted_E_Bear]

Great informational video !

[@throttlebottle5906]

I agree, rubber washers are cheap, so always change them! most them folks don't notice the dry-rotted surface cracking, even hairline invisible cracks will cause leaks.

[@externalaffairsporter]

The first thing you need to do before you start taking out the sight glass it shut off the upper and lower valves so isolated from the system

[@quertize]

Keep a plastic bottle with rust remover/phosphoric acid and dunk glass in it at the start of the work?

[@thehvachacker]

Usually I can clean up the sight glass. This one I spent a lot of time trying to clean back in October. I wish they would flush out this boiler on occasion. Before October this boiler wasn't serviced in 5 years and get drained maybe once a season.

[@sydsyd]

Did you pipe that boiler in?

[@thehvachacker]

Only piped in the auto feed. This boiler has to be over 30 years old. No safeties other than Lwco, thermocouple, and pressuretrol.

[@sydsyd]

@@thehvachacker Great vid.

[@samuelaranda4597]

Good job if you have to take it apart why put the old washer back. It’s the same effort.

[@thehvachacker]

It’s why I don’t. They are cheap and prevent headaches. Seen many crack sight glasses from over tightening those nuts. Then after boilers running for some time the pressure of the nuts crack the glass.

[@royamberg9177]

No boiler treatment

[@thehvachacker]

It’s coming. This is a cut up clip of a leak and banging noise service call. Wanted to make a video to teach how to cut the glass. I see to many new techs breaking 1-3 tubes before getting an acceptable tube.

[@throttlebottle5906]

@@thehvachacker that would be me, I've never been a glass fella, I look at mirrors and they shatter LOL

[@Rainmaker88]

Near boiler piping looks all wrong

[@thehvachacker]

A lot of boiler piping may look wrong. Yet hard to get someone to pay up and fix them of it’s working. When time comes I will redo with all steel pipe.

[@keithN6]

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[@thehvachacker]

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[@jeffreyjohn2037]

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[@Tigerhawk1981]

69th :P