Steam Mains

john_200

I have approximately 100 year old, one pipe steam system with 3 & 4" steam mains that are rotting out. I would like to replace them with copper,is this feasible, if not why?

Brad White_198

Sure

you could replace them with copper but if you want to continue to use them as part of an operating steam system, use Sch. 40 steel.

Copper has a different coefficient of expansion and the joints will wear out and leak in a season or two. Sometimes copper works, don't get me wrong, but most often it fails.

Copper is among the metals that "work harden"; thermal expansion and contraction cycles are "work". Eventually the metal becomes brittle and can crack but most often soldered joints go first. Steel served for 100 years, why do less? On that last point, many steam systems run much longer. Not that yours have had an early demise, but excessive feedwater from leaks over time may have taken some years off.

Now, not that steel is inexpensive, but copper in that size would cost something like the net GDP reported income of Nigeria.