Steam valves

STEVEN MARKS

Customer has 4 steam valves removed by a service man about 2 years ago. No one in shop remembers removing the valves so the reason why they were removed is unknown.
There are 4 valves (1) 4", (2) 2-1/2" and (1) 2" valve.
The thermostats were also removed during a recent renovation.
If I install the new valves, thermostats and all the wiring what sort of problems may occur if only 1 zone is calling for heat?
The system is working good right now with no complaints, except for the kitchen. Customer removed the radiators during the recent renovation and now keeps his Viking oven on to heat the kitchen. He also had to point out how he spent $8,000.00 on the kitchen ceiling alone. (raised wood panels)
I am hesitant about installing the valves. Any thoughts?
Steven

Brad White_171

What kind of steam system?

If one-pipe steam, I would avoid that. If two-pipe single-zone, I would still avoid that without knowing more.

The place I would be most likely to install such valves and controls is when I have a source of ready on-call steam such as utility steam.

If as you say the system is working OK except for the kitchen, why not solve that and be done with it.

Graveyard is full of dead heroes.

STEVEN MARKS

2 pipe steam

Customer is adamant that we removed the valves therfore we should replace the valves. He is not concerned about the kitchen(we weren't part of the renovation). Customer has paid down his oil bills from 9,00 to 2,000 and now feels he is entitled to new valves.
The owner of the company is a glutton for punishment.
I dont want to get involved in something that can have more problems than when I started.

Brad White_171

Unless

the zoning is disparate enough in temperature over longer periods of time, I see the only way to control this system is at a probably much higher pressure than it needs to run without the valves. This will cost more fuel of course. The setup would have a pressuretrol maintain X pressure. As valves close down this will satisfy sooner and of course cause short cycling. Too many variables without knowing more details but that is my simple view. If control can be had at the radiator level (thinking TRV's) there will be less wholesale turndown and better control room to room. That to me is a better approach.

The valves- one never knows if they were original to what might have been a sound installation. I suspect that they were an add-on. Just because it was does not make it right... I would stand back and take a look at the system as a whole. Make it work as originally intended.

The hardest job we sometimes have is stopping people who want to hurt themselves.