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Re: Situational Water Hammer
@mattmia2 That was exactly it! I added water and it stopped.
Basically, there is a point that is still a couple inches above the low water cutoff where the boiler water level drops below the low return line, allowing steam to enter the low return and causing the obvious water hammer.
I had all this return replaced two years ago when it corroded through and I guess the installer sloped it a little to high. It wasn't caught during testing because you would tend to test at a normal-full water level, not a below normal water level (in other words, I don't particularly fault the installer here).
My boiler water line is nominally 10" above the low (wet) return. I am going to try to adjust the pipe stands and even turn the elbow at the drop to try to lower the corner point of my wet return and inch or two.
This leads me to the following question: what is the no boloney minimum pipe slope I can get away with? I assume that the design is 1/4" per foot standard for drainage, and we are talking a 40-50ft pipe run - can I reduce to 1/8" per foot (more like 3/16" or 7/32" over this distance) or would a false water line be the better choice?
Or could I put a thermostatic trap on the line at this point - is that what you mean? What product and size would I use?
Remember I still can't find a true boiler mechanic in WNY and will likely be doing this myself.
Basically, there is a point that is still a couple inches above the low water cutoff where the boiler water level drops below the low return line, allowing steam to enter the low return and causing the obvious water hammer.
I had all this return replaced two years ago when it corroded through and I guess the installer sloped it a little to high. It wasn't caught during testing because you would tend to test at a normal-full water level, not a below normal water level (in other words, I don't particularly fault the installer here).
My boiler water line is nominally 10" above the low (wet) return. I am going to try to adjust the pipe stands and even turn the elbow at the drop to try to lower the corner point of my wet return and inch or two.
This leads me to the following question: what is the no boloney minimum pipe slope I can get away with? I assume that the design is 1/4" per foot standard for drainage, and we are talking a 40-50ft pipe run - can I reduce to 1/8" per foot (more like 3/16" or 7/32" over this distance) or would a false water line be the better choice?
Or could I put a thermostatic trap on the line at this point - is that what you mean? What product and size would I use?
Remember I still can't find a true boiler mechanic in WNY and will likely be doing this myself.
KarlW
1
Re: Install of the Year!
Yes, because no pro would ever dare!
Were they using copper on steam 37 years ago ? I thought that was a relatively new thing with less Pros in the field..
Re: Triangle Tube Prestige 110 noise
Fan, venturi or both. Find good Triangle tube boiler mechanic in your area. Make sure boiler combustion chamber and tubes are cleaned out while at it otherwise you will ruin what you have already done. Just fyi, boiler is at or near end of life. 15 yrs is pretty close to their lifespan. So could be putting good money before bad. ( could be opposite, phrase always messes with my head).
Re: Install of the Year!
Like @Mad Dog_2 said if they knew any better, they wouldn't have put their name on it. They were proud of it.
Re: Extension radiators don't get as hot as the rest of the building
Is there any banging in the extension radiators? You might want to speed up the venting on the mains and slow down the venting on the radiators in the non extension part of the house
Re: Boiler can't keep up
Interesting way to install a strainer. With the drain on the top. I thought that water drained down in the northern hemisphere and it drained up in the souther hemisphere. 
Is your plumber from Australia?
Makes me wonder if your installer understands basic law of gravity?!? Hope his boss designed the overall system.
Is your plumber from Australia?
Makes me wonder if your installer understands basic law of gravity?!? Hope his boss designed the overall system.
Re: Can you use type M copper pipe?
It's a pretty significant price difference, close to 30%.
For a couple lengths you'll stick to L then when you start getting into larger quantities you want to check code book. Usually how it goes...
For a couple lengths you'll stick to L then when you start getting into larger quantities you want to check code book. Usually how it goes...
dko
1
Interesting thermometer
I've got this thermometer here that I can see from my bed and it's really handy once you learn how to read it.
So if the cat is on the section next to the pipe it's in the 50s out.
Slightly over and it's 40s.
Her current position in this picture is low 30s.
Teens and she's far over to the vent side.
Single digits and she's on the floor by the radiator.
Below zero and she's on the floor about a foot away.
It's like one of those weather clocks with the little people only it's a real radiator and a real cat.
So if the cat is on the section next to the pipe it's in the 50s out.
Slightly over and it's 40s.
Her current position in this picture is low 30s.
Teens and she's far over to the vent side.
Single digits and she's on the floor by the radiator.
Below zero and she's on the floor about a foot away.
It's like one of those weather clocks with the little people only it's a real radiator and a real cat.
ChrisJ
16