Webster repair

Rodney Summers

I've done work for the previous owner for more than 20 years, then they sold it to the current owners who came home to no heat one night and had the "new" oil company change it out.

To answer your question about the crossover(s), yes most of them at some point over the years got rebuilt. I had a source years ago for the replacements but now I only can find the capsules which work quite well actually. The one in the picture was re-done about 7 years ago +/-.


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Rodney Summers

Webster repair

Got a call on excessive fuel usage and a small leak. This is what I found.

The boiler is roughly 40% oversized. (yes thats a 80 series WM in a single family home)


This is a vapor system, but the installer aparently didn't know it. I redid some of the near boiler piping and installed the vaporstat.


There was a leak (not shown) that was repaired.


Just figured I'd show some of the vapor junkies out there. (you know who you are)


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Christian Egli_2

I like Webster radiator traps

Thanks for the fix

I find the Webster radiator traps have an exceptionaly long life.

The one on the cross over vent seems quite new. Did you rejuvenate it? Did you transplant a capsule into it? Or do you still have a source for the original stuff?

Jeff Lawrence_25

I noticed

There actually is a vaporstat on the boiler as well as the pressuretrol, but there aren't any pigtails.

Also, is the water in the system dirty?

gerry gill

ah !! junkie happy now

much thanks..

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Steamhead (in transit)

That's the Webster \"Type R\" system

Most of the ones I've seen around here drip the steam mains into the wet returns thru F&T traps, rather than directly. This results in "B" dimensions on these drips rather than "A" dimensions, but with everything coming back thru the Return Trap it still works fine.

That looks like a Hoffman #76 on the vent trap. I'd change that to a Gorton #2, which will allow the trap to vent to its full capacity.

And Southern Man is right, unless there's a water seal we can't see in the photo, the Pressuretrol and Vaporstat need pigtails under them as well as the gauge. These units won't last long if live steam can reach them.

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clammy

Mr.O,connor

Hello robert ,i was just wondering where about was this job jersey or new york state just curious .Great save also peace and good luck clammy

Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste

thanks for the fix

Hi Robert,

Thanks for sharing, I enjoy a good Webster system as much as the next junkie. This one is especially correct to Webster's original instructions. The steam supply to the return trap even has the Webster dirt strainer installed.

One of my prized possesions is a brass piping diagram of a Webster 0023 return trap and associated piping. It is about 4" x 6". It was lost for years, and then I found it recently stuck behind some junk in a bookcase in my office. Now it hangs proudly on the wall next to my desk. Love the Webster, we have a lot of it here in Cincinnati. I think they had a good rep in the area back in the day.

Best regards, Pat

Rodney Summers

Jeff

The system is very dirty and one of the things I'm proposing to do for the new owners is to completely clean it. It is pretty clear to me the boiler wasn't even skimmed on start up. The problem I face is trying to convince these people that preventive maintence is a good thing, but with them paying a maintence agreement to the oil company, its a pretty tough sell. As far as the lack of a pigtail goes, it would have helped if I didn't leave it and the other fittings I needed on the counter at the supply house yesterday morning along with the fittings I needed to fix another problem there. I typically like to use pipe to make a trap, then put the pigtail on top of it. The boiler isn't going to fire because the switch is off on the top of the stairs. I was running around chasing my tail yesterday but had to make an appearance so this is as far as I've gotten.


Robert O'Connor/NJ


Must be the CRS.

Rodney Summers

steamhead

Good catch on the 76, I must admit it was I that installed that about six years ago. It works well but you are right. I'd be curious to see what that change could do for this system. The only problem is the "new" owners (and their oil company) don't share this same passion.

Good catch. My bad?


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Rodney Summers

Patrick

Glad I could scratch the itch.


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Rodney Summers

gerry

Kinda like crack, aint it?


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Rodney Summers

clammy

This is in Essex Co.


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Ross_7

Webster vapor systems

I used to service a nice Webster system before I started working for the university. I miss not working on vapor. :-(
Still get calls outside of work here and there if someone's having a problem. We have steam here on campus, but you know how it is, it just isn't the same. Oh well...
Ross