boiler misinstalled?

westminster

Hi. We just had a new 210 BTU Burnham steam boiler installed in our home. Our plumber installed one 2.5" riser coming out of the top of the boiler, which is the way our old boiler was set up. Seems to be working okay. However, I was looking through the instruction manual and noticed that the manufacturer actually specifies two risers, each at least 2" (the second riser is optional for models smaller than ours). Now I'm getting worried. Can anyone tell me whether this is a big deal, or just standard practice? Are there implications in terms of safety, efficiency, etc.? Would you call the plumber back and demand to have the second riser added? Thanks in advance!

Brad White_203

By the Book

Steam boilers should always be installed per the manufacturer's instruction and operating manual (IOM).

The near-boiler piping is as critical for boiler operation as the boiler itself because that is how the boiler was rated in the first place. (The boiler manufacturers just have not figured out how to economically crate such a thing and ship it to your house, let alone how to get it inside you see.)

Specific to your situation, using both risers (all of them if there are any spare tappings but at least the number they recommend) does two things:

1) It decreases steam exit velocity and in so doing, reduces entrained moisture. You want dry steam. Low exit velocities are the first step.

2) It evens-out the boiler waterline by not drawing the waterline up towards the exiting riser. Should this happen, your level controls may react in ways you may not like.

None of these things that could happen are absolutes mind you. Some poorly-piped installations work well (with some loss of efficiency I have to assume).

But by doing things by the book, you eliminate as many variables over which you have control.

Timco

If not by book, likely no warranty...

Tim

rich on heat

Brad and Timco have given you good advice.

I'd also suggest you get Dan's books (a "Steamy Deal") at the bottom of this page. They're easy reading and full of facts on design rules, operation and trouble shooting of steam heating systems. The boiler manufacturers should include two copies of Dan's books with each boiler they sell, one set for the homeowner and one set for the plumber/installer so they both could learn about steam heat.
In my instance though the installer meant well, I now know he really didn't understand single pipe steam systems. (I think this is unfortunately pretty common)
Steam Heating is really great and is quite simple yet you must keep a few subtle rules in mind if you want an efficient operating system and you have to understand these rules especially if you're retrofitting an older system.

If it hadn't been for Dan's books and the help from the "steam pros" on this site I'd have really been up the "olde creek" !

westminster

Thanks, a couple more questions

Thanks so much for the advice! I will definitely check out the books (I should have done that before putting in our new boiler!).

One thing we've noticed is that the boiler is cycling on and off frequently -- sometimes every few minutes. Could this also be related to the way it was piped? What's the typical interval for a boiler to cycle on and off (we've had out thermostat at 65, and the outside temperature has been between 45 and 60)?

Also, would you demand that the plumber come back and repipe the boiler? Or is this something we should expect to pay extra for since it wasn't something we specified when hiring him?

Thanks again for your help -- this site is a great resource!

rich on heat

The first item you need to address is the piping coming out of the boiler. As you have noticed it doesn't conform to the manufacturer's specifications. From what I've observed, most manufacturer's recommendations tend to be on the minimum side (to keep costs down I guess) rather than optimum so if their (minimum)recommendations aren't followed you are very likely to have problems.

I can't emphasize enough....The first thing you need to do is get Dan's books! Without them you'll remain in the dark! After you've read them you'll understand exactly what is wrong with your system and what needs to be done to straighten it out.
You might also want to take a look at another post on this board "Burnam Mega Steam - COMPLETE!...almost". I think this might be interesting to you as your boiler is the same make so the installation should be somewhat similar. This is an "optimum" setup for risers. It has "swing joints" and has what is called a "drop header" Be sure to take a look at the pictures and read the critique done by the "pros". Save the pictures so you can look at them later. I found between reading Dan's books and then trying to apply what I had read to pictures of systems steam pros had done, really helped my understanding.
For answers to your specific questions I'll refer you to one of Dan's books included in the "Steamy Deal" package, titled "A Pocketful of Steam Problems (with solutions) " . It's a pocket sized 295 page steam system troubleshooting book. ( LOL- If I keep this up I'm going to have to ask Dan for a commission!)

nicholas bonham-carter

commission

i think that most of us steam owners are so grateful that dan's books and this website were here; when we needed them, that we want to pass the help now onto others in need.that is our "spiritual commission".--nbc

rich on heat

NBC-
RIGHT ON!!!

GW

need to re-pipe

please confess: did you hire the cheap guy?

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