bad hookup?

Charles J. Hills

Thanks again I am now going to have to hunt down a pro to properly install the piping. I maintain the water level twice a day. The Low water cutoff is frozen and dosen't work. The steam pressure forces the water out of the boiler and the only water in the boiler is at the 35.5 " level when it is fired up . You can see it right at the bottom of the glass. So if the cutoff does work it will shut down the boiler consistantly. You can bet I am scared to death about it. I mentioned in an earlier posting I recieved the manual for the V-33 from Burnham hence the questions about the schematic symbols. The only saving factor is that this has been in this condition since the 1980's and nothing has happened YET! But I still don't believe nothing ever will.
Charles J. Hills

Charles J. Hills

bad hookup?

My Father In Law has a Burnham V-33 in his basement it is a one pipe steam heat system. If I may I'd like to ask you gentelmen if the manor in which this is hooked up sounds correct to you. Please keep in mind that I didn't do this, but this is the way this boiler was installed I only replaced the rusted pipes over time, and it never seemed right to me, and now that I have read up on it some I am a little more sure that it isn't but I'm just not positive. Ok, let me try to convey this the best way I can. The steam leaves the boiler up through one headder and T's off to two mains that run lets say north of the boiler and run the extent of the radiators through out the house they then get double elbowed and run back to the boiler as a wet return along the cieling at a greater pitch then the steam mains. Two radiators in the room behind the boiler position use the same steam pipe to return back to the boiler (no wet return pipe). Now comes the confusion for me and how is it possable. T'ing off the equalizer at the level of the low level on the sight glass is a 2" pipe and it runs along side of the boiler so as to line up with the two wet returns along the cieling. They connect back to the boiler using 2" pipe T'ing off from this pipe and running up to the wet returns . Nothing is below the low level of the sight glass. Also at the end of this same return pipe is the fresh water supply. Does that sound proper to you?
Thanks again

Unknown

we wallies

Need some pictures to help you with the problems you are having ...

Charles J. Hills

I have some but I need better lighting so I'll be going back with lighting to get better ones. be back later.

Charles J. Hills

Show & Tell

Back with better pics.

Charles J. Hills

Show & Tell

Let me try this again. This is my second attempt to up/ld these Pics.

Charles J. Hills

More to Show & Tell

Let me try this again. This is my second attempt to up/ld these Pics.

Tombig_2

Mr. Hills

You are right in questioning the near boiler piping. It is neither correct nor proper. You really should call in a pro to correct it. Your returns are dry. They are not considered wet unless the horizontal pipe is below the normal boiler water level. The returns should pipe down to a header near the bottom of the boiler, then up the tee in the equalizer just below the water line. This is the hartford loop. The last defense against dry firing the boiler. There are also issues with the steam supply piping. Look closely at the piping diagram on pg 37 of Burnham's V8 manual.

http://www.burnham.com/pdfs/CurrentPDFfiles/V8_I&O.pdf

Whoever installed this boiler had a copy of this manual if it was purchased new. Does the boiler have a manual fill only? Is there a low water cutoff device installed and operating? Reworking the returns alone is a major piping job. Operating safety controls are life and death. Call a pro.

Steamhead (in transit)

Here's the steam piping diagram for the V-3 series

from the looks of those pics, the original installer used his copy as a knee pad. I have the entire manual if you need anything more from it.

Note that on the V-33, the pipe sizes for the riser to the header and the header itself are listed as 2-inch. Though you could get away with that, I believe all the V-3 steamers had 3-inch steam supply tappings so I'd use 3-inch pipe there. I'd also use a 2-inch equalizer. This will enhance the water separation from the steam, also avoid compressing the steam too much in the header, and the system would run much better.

The V-3 series boilers were built like tanks, and should last a long time with proper care.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Steamhead (in transit)

Did I read that right

you have to add water to the boiler TWICE a day?

If this is true, you have a bad leak somewhere which will kill that boiler!

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Charles J. Hills

Steaming Vents

I have to replace all of the vents on his radiators 10 or so. He never had them replaced and the house is very old and he has lived there for many years. I am a home owner with a small Tool & Die business so I can get into Sid Harvey's I just can't ask questions I have to know what I want in order to get it. Now I already checked Home Depot and Lowes for steam vents and didn't find any. I just have to find time to get to Sid Harvey's and more time to replace them. Right now it is nothing to stop in before work and after. Perhaps tomorrow I will get a late start on my work day and replace the vents.

Charles J. Hills

Same Schematic

Yes thanks again that is the same schematic I had recieved with the owners manual for the Burnham V-33.