drop header supplies

canine

Saw a Steam boiler installation today that looked functional but should be tweaked. The thing that confused me was that they used both tapping's (yes the proper way) and height is correct. The confusion comes when they 90 deg. and dropped 8 inches to drop into the main line. The original main is higher than the risers and could have been tied straight in. I have looked through my 1994 fourth printing of "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" and the only piping diag. and info that looks remotely like the current piping is when doing multiple boilers. Have I missed an important update since then?

Steamhead

A drop header is MUCH easier to install

because the extra swing joints allow much more flexibility, and it also handles the boiler's expansion and contraction much better. For these reasons, we install drop headers on any boiler that has two or more risers from the boiler to the header.



You'll find some drop header pics here:



http://www.heatinghelp.com/article-categories/164/Steam-Piping

canine

Thank you

Due to the fact of "The Have Wrench Will Travel" factor,  I have been spending more time fixing and redoing system rather than original installs. It makes sense to utilize the design, just not common on smaller systems. Thank you for your explanation and pic. link it help clarify my situation.

nicholas bonham-carter

Tweaking

What tweaking is needed? Can you list any problems with the system? The drop header is a good start, but problems with excessive pressure, and bad venting may still need to be addressed.--NBC

canine

Minor issues

Thank you for the follow up. The asbestos has been removed for prior home sale and no insulate replaced. Thermostat relocated to wrong area, isolated room from open sensing of the rest of the house. Old radiator vents and miss balanced. Main steam vents on T's at main return end and need to be relocated back further. A really good cleaning and skimming. I think that should bring it up to par. I had seen drop headers before but only on larger commercial boilers and multiple boilers. That could be the reason for the header, the people that put it in, they probably do mostly larger boilers and that is the way they where taught. As long as it is not going to hinder the system, than status quo.

Steamhead

Post some pictures

might as well have a look at this. 

Hap_Hazzard

Check the combustion too.

It's not unusual for people (usually homeowners with screwdrivers) to crank up the firing rate to compensate for the loss of peripheral heating after the insulation is removed, and that's another thing you might need to undo as you're putting things right.