Near-Boiler Piping

IhaveSteam

New Boiler installed 2001 – Smith Cast Iron with gas Power Flame Burner.  The rest of the system is much older.  It is a two pipe steam system.  There are 65 steam traps split about half and half between thermostatic and F&T traps.  There is a 4 story building attached to a 1 story “factory” building.  The “factory” building has a gravity return system.  The returns in the 4 story building go to the basement where two vented condensate pumps return the condensate to the gravity system in the “factory”.



The system works but I know it can be improved.  There are cold radiators, leaks, banging etc.  Most of this can easily be taken care of with some basic maintenance.  For example NO traps have been repaired or replaced in at least 6 years.



Here’s what I’ve done so far: Cranked down the Pressuretrol from 6 and 1 to 2 and 1/2, Removed two check valves on the gravity fed return to stop boiler flooding, Replaced a plug with an air vent on the end of the gravity return above the boiler, Re-plumbed an F&T steam trap which was installed sideways!,  Replaced an F&T steam trap on the steam main nearest the boiler.



Concerns, Questions, Observations

Main steam outlet in center of header between risers.  Equalizer to false water level inverted U is pitched towards the header and is trapping condensate and causing banging.  The equalizer is plumbed to the boiler side of the false water level inverted U not the system side.  The header has been reduced then the el on the header drip is tilting up not straight down.



How bad are these things?  Is condensate pooling in the header causing wet steam?  Which ones MUST be corrected and which can be let go?

gerry gill

the false water line could probably be

left alone..the header piping while wrong may work if the pressure is kept very low...but if you can get them to spend the money, by all means fix it..it will only help..sounds like they finally got someone in there who can actually take care of their system..sounds like a nice job fixing things..thats alot of f&t traps..