Another mess to figure-out!

Unknown

installed in a local pool hall. It was replaced recently by local "pros", and based on the installed EDR it`s 4 models oversized and never shuts-off. The tank vent puffs so much, its eucred 2 pumps this season. He actually wanted to pipe the tank vent outside so it wouldn`t keep setting the fire alarm off. It required so much make-up water, someone installed a chem-feeder to its supply water! Empty chemical pails all over the basement. Oh the "joy" of it!<BR><BR>Dave

EBEBRATT-Ed

Yeah. Installed by a "pro" alright! No doubt about it!
Why is it taking on so much make up water?? Bad traps??

Plenty of job security their! Probably the customer thinks steam heat sucks. Too Bad.


ED

Unknown

Actually Ed

the new owner seems to like steam. I told him that it`s been so "cobbled and quick-fixed" over the years this is what he ends-up with, but as everybody here knows, it can be fixed-up!
I gotta meet with him next week, and give him a detailed findings report, but I think (hope) he`ll go for-it. Alot of steam systems I see in this area get to this point, then they are told to convert to HW, which creates even more problems as these "conversions" are done incorrectly also. But I keep trying to tell them.

Dave

bob young

nasty looking job

WOW ! That is about as ugly as it gets. wrong too.

Steamhead (in transit)

Fix that one

and you'll get more than enough steam work from the referrals!

That looks like a Slant/Fin boiler- if so, call Noel at their tech department to see what your options are with it.

Why is there a return pump? If the system can run below 1 pound or so, gravity return would work fine!

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JimH

laugh out loud

wow.... that's one ugly install. hahaha.... you got to love the copper header. if i were you i would start from square one and rip out all near boiler piping and do it right. wow...

Dave_4

Keeping the rewards to oneself

One astounding aspect of such scary systems is that they actually keep the premises warm, quite warm, and even with all the escaping steam, they do so with heating fuel bills that are not always way out of line. It's amazing how robust and rugged and authentic steam heat is.

Now add a bit of tender care, some bling on the control side and a few streamlining operations and you've got space age heat with system wide efficiencies that reach to the moon.

I have seen one steam system actively heating the birds with a fed-to-the-outdoors-condensate-tank-air-vent do quite well as far as building heating costs, better than other comparable forced air buildings. Also, neglected steam usually outdoes neglected hot water quite handily.

The lesson: why bother with inexpensive maintenance when neglect seems so good?... Well, you've already got the shabby-chique boiler working for you, all it needs is some accessorizing. Then watch efficiency and performance numbers make heads turn.

Dave, best wishes with your proposal.

Unknown

Thanks guys

for all your input, as I said above,,,there are lots of these "neglected" steam systems around my area, put nobody wants to pay-up to have them properly repaired! I remember going to a HUGE home on the river the HO had just purchased for big $$$, the boiler had just been replaced prior to me getting there and was running at 12PSI steam-pressure and the basement was like a sauna! The steam traps were original to the 30`s, never been apart, and someone cobbled-on a return pump from an effluent(sump type) system. I told the guy what should be done, but he got another contractor in, left the system be and switched the gas valve wires to always fire on low. What a cure!!!

Dave