Rules are made to be broken (PAH)

Unknown

No better time to look at steam.

A 1,000 foot roll of PAP over the shoulder feeding a ladder bound tubester sounds a lot easier than the problems you guys were tracking down today. WOW. Did you find anything done correctly?

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Dave Yates (PAH)

Unless it's when working with steam!

Spent the afternoon with Steamhead unraveling mysteries and observing what several not-yet-dead-men have done to an antique steam system. Compound spiral fractures would be easier to deal with!

Always a pleasure being with Frank, AKA, Steamhead & it definately pays to get away from the debauchery in the boiler room! Tom, the owner, had lots of good input too.

Time was, district steam entered the front of this very long building & at some point in time, the entire flow was reversed when (I'm guessing) the district steam went away & the boiler was placed at the opposite end of the buidings. Pitch & yaw be damned! Toss in returns that went from wet to dry when the boiler was replaced (what instructions?) and a miriad of alterations over decades that have compounded and foundered the operation & it's like trying to unravel a 1,000' coil of PEX without an uncoiler.

Good to be with you Steamhead & Tom!

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Steve Ebels_3

Good grief!

What solutions did you propose regarding the wrong slope on all the piping?

Dave Yates (PAH)

not all wrong

Not all of them are wrong, so we suggested scorched air - JUST KIDDING! Well, there is ductwork that is ripe for some hydro-air to offset an area missing radiation, but I haven't done the Manual-J loss/gain calcs yet.

It was an enjoyable exercise deciphering many of the moves - kind of like playing chess with ghosts. Wonderful old building that gave up a few of her mysteries tonight.

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Dave Yates (PAH)

you betcha

Lots of wonderful old piping that dates back to who knows when & lots of care exercised by the Dead Men. It's the not-yet-dead-uns that wreaked havoc, so we're going to do our best to un-wreak and tweak. The budget's tight though, so we'll have to concentrate on the worst stuff first.



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Steamhead

It was great

seeing you again, Dave. And the York County references in the Broomell book are on the way. There's no date on these, but the patent dates shown are 1900 and 1901. Let me know how you do!

bb

A lucky homeowner

To have to assistance of Steamhead and Yates to fix their steam system. I'm sure it will be running great come cold weather!

bb

Dave Yates (PAH)

were your ears burning?!?

Your name was invoked quite frequently last night. Especially for the apartments' one-pipe rads being controlled by the double-hung zone valves(G). So, while they're cooking on one side, the other side takes 87-minutes of 4.5-GPH run time to see steam - yikes! Twin 3" mains running the length of the bldg.

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bb

that explains it...

Well, you know how to fix that problem....

Nothing like the double hung zone valves to through $ right out the window!

bb

PS, you forgot to post the pics

Steamhead

Pics!

A nest of Gorton #2 vents.

Steamhead

Loop Seal

This and the vents were the first attempt to make the steam go where it should. Both steam mains discharged into the dry return without being isolated from each other. The loop seal isolates them. Also, you can see the old return under the stairs. Originally it was a wet return, but the new boiler lowered the waterline too far. Then the current return was installed dry.

The loop seal was a good start. But........

Steamhead

More Unsealed Drips

coming from drop risers from overhead mains. You can see one coming into the dry return near PAH's head. There are two others in a nasty pipe tunnel. Owner, known on the Wall as "thfurnitureguy" is on the left.

Steamhead

The Stubborn Radiator

a beautiful Reading steamer that the steam has a lot of trouble getting to. Stay tuned for "after" pics including some in the boiler room.