galvinized pipe for one pipe steam

gehring_3

Steamhead - I think you taught me several years ago that the steam (over time of course) can burn the galvanization right off the pipe and that stuff can float back down to the boiler on the condensate return and cause problems down in the boiler as well.

Bill Jirik,

Galvinzed pipe for one pipe steam

I was in a large apartment building (44 apts)last week with a one pipe steam heating system where a lot of the radiators had been relocated and repiped using galvinized pipe and 125# cast iron fittings there also was some galvinized pipe on the wet returns. Is there any problem using galvinized pipe I.E. chemical reaction, code compliance, etc or is it just a cost factor when chosing black pipe, would like to hear your thoughts.

Steamhead

Galvanized

tends to rust out more quickly on steam. I used to know why, but am drawing a blank, maybe one of the other Wallsters can tell us......

Bill Jirik,

I don't know what you mean by burning off, but the melting point for zinc is in excess of 700 degrees F, so I don't think it is a case of melting off.

gehring_3

Not burn or melt in the literal sense (obviously), but become disconnected from or in some minute sense flake off. Maybe I heard it wrong, but I thought that was one of the issues with Galv. pipe and steam.

Tony Conner_2

The Condensate...

... can pull the zinc off, and carry it back to the boiler. Not always, mind you. But it can.