replacement steam system

soot_seeker_2

You've got a Dunkirk Series 8 boiler there, which is a great little boiler. I have several of them in my buildings. It's unfortunate that it isn't piped right and probably wasted a huge amount of money over the past 25 years.

For what you want to do, I suggest you look up some manufacturers' installation manuals on the Internet. They will show you the peroper way to pipe a boiler, header and Hartford loop.

You should really learn the proper way to size a boiler too, along with all sorts of other stuff about steam heating.

Spend $35 and buy The Lost Art... book on this site. You'll learn much.

Long Beach Ed

lchmb

Steam replacement

Being one that does not do a lot of steam (although I love it) I was wondering if anyone could give me suggestion's for a replacement steam system. The attached pictures show it better than I can explain but basicly I am looking for suggestion's on how to pipe a replacement boiler in this building. I have never dealt with a system with multiple wet return's and as the picture show's their is no Hartford loop. I would like to correct this problem but want to do it right. I am under the impression the replacement will be a Weil Mclain but won't know for a fact until I talk with the boss....

ed wallace

replacement steam boiler

tye the wet returns into a common manafold then pipe it into then create a hartford loop from the manafold pipe just make sure the manafold pipe is larger then the wet returns

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Dan Goodridge

steam piping

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


There is a good steam piping diagram on page 30. It is a Burnham manual but other manufacturers would be similar

David Sutton_6

Good Morning

Read and follow all the piping diagrams that come with your boiler. its a building proccess that starts and finishes before you pick up a wrench. see the hole job done in your minds eye and follow that plan.its ablank slate and your the artist you will do a great job!...David




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lchmb

Thanks Ed

I was thinking to tie the return's into a common return but should I upsize the pipe back to the boiler or would 1 1/4 be large enough? I'm thinking of using a drop header and using 2" pipe so I will have some room to play. Thanks for the thought.

lchmb

Thanks Ed

I do have the book, just haven't finished it yet. As to sizing the boiler, I am in the process of measuring all of the radiator's in the building and will be doing that properly. My biggest concern is doing the return's properly. I have done steam system's with a single return and this will be my first with multiple. Just want to make it right. I also plan to replace all of the vent's in the system and to clean it properly after completion.

Unknown

The returns

Looks like you have 2 of them ? I usually tee them in the size of the biggest return pipe - usually 1 1/4 inch . No need to tee them as close to the floor as possible , but lower is better to stop it from backing out under pressure or pushing steam into them . I'd also upsize the equalizer all the way to the boiler return for this purpose . If the returns are old , I would suggest a shutoff valve for each return and a purge station after the Hartford Loop .

But in my opinion , the best thing you can do to insure peak performance is to increase the boiler main size . I believe the Weil has a 2.5 inch tapping ? Increase the boiler main one size bigger than the specs call for , separate those 2 steam mains and bring them back individually . I always try to drop the header , but make sure the local inspector won't make a big stink about it . Had that happen once . Can't wait to see the finished product Lchmb !

Unknown

A picture

is worth 1000 words , and Dave's job is picture perfect .

lchmb

Thanks Ron

Thanks for the information. If it come's out half as good as your system's I'll take pics! As to the inspector, I have a 4' pipe wrench so I'm sure he'll agree with it!! Then again I live in NH so most of them don't even look, they only care if it has a thermal cutoff and is vented..