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Steam Heat Piping

Jason Witte
Jason Witte Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
I have a 10-15 year old steam boiler. The house is 75 - 80 y.o. and the steam came from a plant about 3 miles away. The original system was piped with cast iron. When the boiler was installed/replaced ,some piping was replaced with copper. I believe i'm going to have replace the boiler, and am wondering if i should replace the copper with black pipe. I will not be able to replace all of it due to renovations where copper is buried in walls and floors. Is copper incorrect? I have not had any visible pipe issues (joints leaking etc.)I have gotten the indication that steam heat in copper piping is a bad idea.
Any help would be great.

Comments

  • Brad White
    Brad White Member Posts: 2,399
    Copper

    does not hold up well over time with steam. The combination of cyclical stresses and higher temperature take their toll on solder joints.

    If you are replacing the boiler, I certainly would replace any visible copper with carbon steel pipe.

    Copper can work just fine below the waterline where temperatures are more gradual and stresses are low.

    Where copper exists in walls and otherwise inaccessible? Sometimes we have to admit defeat. It may well last for years especially if it is not given to stresses (such as where it is a short riser without a lot of torsion).

    My $0.02

    Brad
    "If you do not know the answer, say, "I do not know the answer", and you will be correct!"



    -Ernie White, my Dad
This discussion has been closed.

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