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WEBSTER RETURN TRAP

I'M BIDDING TO CHANGE OUT A OIL STEAM BOILER THAT IS 40 YEARS OLD AND HAS A WEBSTER RETURN TRAP AND WEBSTER RETURN VENT. THE SYSTEM IS WORKING VERY WELL. WE WONT TO UPGRADE THE BOILER. HOW DO I PIPE THE RETURN PIPING.  DO WE REPLACE THE TRAP AND VENT WITH A COND. RETURN PUMP.  TWO PIPE  SYSTEN DRY RETURNS. NO TRAPS AT THE END OF THE STEAM MAINS. WHAT IS MY BEST WAY OF PIPING . THANKS  FOR ANY HELP OR DRAWINGS.

Comments

  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,788
    don't throw it away!

    If it works, I might be interested in it.  So nice to have a mechanical device that does not need a motor to return the water to the boiler
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,496
    Two thoughts...

    First off, when you pipe in the new boiler, follow the manufacturer's diagrams as closely as possible -- go overboard (i.e. two risers instead of one, or bigger, etc.) if possible.



    Second, seems to me -- maybe I'm missing something -- that the old system got steam from the boiler, and returned water to the boiler.  And it's working.  Is there any good reason why you can't connect the new boiler to the old steam main(s) and the old return line(s)?  Absent a good reason, that's what I would do -- and leave the Webster system intact, since it seems to be working.



    One caveat: make sure to match the working water level of the new boiler with the old one as closely as possible.  This is a common problem on newer, smaller boilers...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
This discussion has been closed.