Furnace

Orchard

I have a new furnace in my home. It is sending (pushing) hot water through my steam pipes, and now my pipes is burst. The Furnace Guy said it the pipes that is old, and that the pipes is the problem. I ask him if it is a steam furnace ' why it is sending water through my pipes'. His explanation is that the the return after the steam - would be solid water back to the furnace. But, the hot water is running through the pipes at start up and not when it it returning back down. Immediately after the furnace heats up hot water is starting to leak out about 2 to 3 ft away from the furnace. This does not look like a return to me, it looks like the furnace is sending hot water through the pipes - instead of steam. Which cause my pipes to burst. My building is not new, therefore it may be hard on the pipes if hot water is constantly running through.

Paul48

You

need to know what's going on with your system. I suggest you do some studying about how steam systems work. This would be a great start... http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Steam-Heating-Books/25/61/We-Got-Steam-Heat-A-Homeowners-Guide-to-Peaceful-Coexistence

Steamhead

Also post some pics

and tell us where you are. If the original installer can't fix the mess, you'll need some qualified help. 

04090

Keep in mind

that steam is constantly changing to hot water as it condenses, and that that hot water is returning to the boiler. 



You boiler may not be sending hot water into the pipes as you envision.  Steam is in a state of change as it reaches cold surfaces and condenses back to water.  That's probably what you see, and the pipes are pitched towards the boiler to facilitate it's return to the boiler... where it's of course made back into steam.



Can you see the water level in the glass gauge on the boiler?  Typiclaly half to two thirds full?



Do you have a "burst" pipe with a hole in it, or a leak at a joint?