A Classic \"How Not to Pipe a Steam Boiler\" Photo

wsdave

I hope mine looks as pretty when I'm done!
That is what I plan on doing, including the dropped header. I gotta print that picture! I've been in touch with Utica support for quite some time just to make sure I get things right.
I'm only kicking myself now that it took me so many years to figure out what was wrong! I dealt with boilers in the Navy and a few years back as a building mantenace man - nothing on this small scale. Probably could have saved a lot of money in fuel!

I noticed you only piped in one tee for skimming. I planned on installing one on each takeoff from the boiler. Any comments on this approach ? I figured it would be easier to skim boiler since I could do both sides at once.

Thanks for all your support.
Dave

Dave Stroman

The owner of this boiler has spent about $3,000 with 3 different contractors over the last 5 years to try and correct her banging problem. No one had a clue or even attemped to correct the real problem. They replaced just about every other component in the system except the most important thing- the near boiler piping.

Dave in Denver

Christian Egli_2

That's one cross-eyed boiler

Always that mystery equalizer pipe connection some people wouldn't recognize if it smacked them on the forehead.

Yeah, steam is supposed to bang... sure. It will make you a hero to this homeowner.

Good rescue

bob young

header

it would have been so simple to do it correctly. i could make a new drop header out of steel pipe and it would not take long. even with copper they could make it work. if they would only read the piping arrangement. very few people understand steam piping. i see it every day.

Mad Dog_2

Can't wait to see your repipe job

Atleast it will finally be done right. Good call man. Mad dog

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Brad White_27

Yes, indeed

if you could post a "Before and After".

I am sure it will look fantastic

and sound.... like a distant brook at worst.

clammy

still happens

Have one to do the plumber piped it the same way plumbing inspector passed it and the plumber is still there but refuses to re pipe even though he was shown the instruction manual says that isn't the promblem so i'll have to wait for him to finish the rest of the addition he's doing and re pipe it in the summer .In any event his price was cheaper then mine would have been and the HO doesn't want to piss him off.peace and good luck clammy

bob young

drop header

Clammy, the strangs thing is i have seen hundreds of boiler headers piped similiarly and believe it or not they work fine. even i have done a few in the past that were borderline but worked perfect. just finished a IN6 lastnite. I AM A SERIOUS DROP HEADER ALL THE WAY MAN THESE DAYS. what a pleasure.

wsdave

My Beast

How 'bout this ?
My spring project!
Dave

bob young

they are out there, Dave

the milk box effect is insane. brings to mind when i observed a beer keg used as an expansion tank. the piping is balls on straight foward. installer probably thought it was gorgeous in his mind !!

Dan_29

I am not alone

I too have a peerless that looks like it was piped by the three stoges. It is nice to know I am not alone. See attachments.

Dan

Dan_29

I am not alone

I too have a Peerless that looks as if it was piped by the Three Stooges. See photos. It is coming out soon.

Dan

wsdave

Milk Box

Keg for an expansion tank huh! Did they charge it with a 15 HP compressor??

I thought that the milk crate was a bit much when I bought the house BUT after hitting that gas valve a "few" times I decided to keep it there for protection. Doesn't influence the boiler at all.
I'll post pics when I complete the repiping "project".
If it wasn't for Dan's books AND all the pros here - I'd still be in the dark.
Gee - always thought steam was suppose to be noisy - lets you know its working!!! LOL
Dave

Steamhead (in transit)

That's the second-worst piping job

I've seen on a Utica or similar Columbia gas steamer. Here's what it should look like- this one's a mirror image of what's in the manual, since the steam mains were on the left. Oh yes, the pic also shows what they supply on the later models in place of the milk crate. The series you have didn't have anything there.

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bob young

skimming

You could go the extra mile & drill & tap each section. then you could really get into some really serious skimming.

wsdave

Skimming

ROFLMAO!
That made my day!
I don't think I want to go that far Bob.
I tend to be anal but not that much!
Dave

bob young

side arm tankless

believe it or not that is the procedure we used in the 50's & 60's when adding a side arm coil to an existing boiler for domestic hot water. what fun !

wsdave

I think I'll pass

I'll bet that was lots of fun!
Dave

Steamhead (in transit)

On a smaller model like that one

and yours, one is all you need. But on the larger ones I'll use two skim tees, even though I believe the manual only calls for one.

Here's another one. This is on a VECO Vapor system in Philly. Piping credit for this beautiful job goes to Jamie Pompetti and crew. He takes the skim tee approach a bit farther than I do.

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wsdave

Pretty

Really nice job.
I especially like the header. Looks like he prefabed it using weld-o-lets.
Thanks.
Dave

EBEBRATT-Ed

The only thing that would have made this beter would have been drainage fittings.

ed