Did another small steam job

Dave0176

Removed that old Repco boiler and replaced it with a Williamson GSA 075, really like these boilers and the price is great, plus it's a Weil McLain in cammo.



So I removed the bullhead tee and split the mains, removed the bullhead tee on the returns and split them too, built a 2 1/2" drop header with two 2" risers into a 2" equalizer, the return was 1 1/2" so I kept it that way all the way to the wet return manifold, also added return vents.



Unfortunately this system was installed all wrong, the mains aren't dripped right, on one side the main is dripped into tee into the return about three feet before the last runout, the other main is dripped at the end, but into a tee. Amazing no one thought about using elbows to drip the mains.



Boilers in, went back today system is absolutely filthy. I skimmed for a few hours, then did a high pressure blow down, that seemed to clean it up well, but will need to be done again I'm sure. There was zero pitch in the return before so water must of sat in the lines for years. These is still lots of stuff wrong with this system, I'm just hoping it will work. I told the owner we may very well have to repipe everything, and he understands.







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ALIGA

Williamson has the worst support ever

Good boiler but bad customer support.



I have one these units with a cracked base. They told me to uninstall the unit and take back to supplier for review. Idiots run that company.

Dave0176

supply house

Its funny how many people down my pipe work, countless plumbers tell me im crazy for the "useless" pipe work, they all tell me I'm wasting time and money. Hell even the supply house salesman asks why am I running two risers on such a small boiler, I just quote Dan, if there were 30 risers I'd use them.

ALIGA

Plumbers may down the work

By steam men will give you three thumbs up

Dave0176

Thanx

Thanks ALIGA.....

Dennis Foley

Steam men like that work

None of it's wasted, we do the same, usually using a 3 drop header. 2 1/2 is to confusing for us.

I'm a plumber, but I've had to re-install many boilers that other plumbers installed wrong. Happens too often.

ChrisJ

two 2"

Are those 2" risers?

Technically for a perfect install you should have two 3" risers as that is what the tappings are.



I used two 2" on my EG-45 so I'm not insulting your work. Just making a point that you're right and everyone else is wrong. Probably the best thing to do is answer back "ok" and just proceed as normal because you'll never win the argument.

Dave in QCA

Three Thumbs

Looks great to me too!

Unknown

thats a true

That's a true steam pro job!.. good boiler (made by Weil McLain) done right! Dbl 2" risers is more than enough on this boiler..

Unknown

thats a true

That's a true steam pro job!.. good boiler (made by Weil McLain) done right! Dbl 2" risers is more than enough on this boiler..

jumper

this is nothing

Dave, if you think plumbers mess up in a house you should see what they can do to a larger steam heated building.

j a_2

plumbers

What and why all the fuss over plumbers…..This is not the first time i have seen this type of post….I fail to see the point…..No comment on the install

Hap_Hazzard

While we're at it...

You could have installed king valves and put a full-port valve on the return for doing blow-downs. You could also have put a full-port valve on the Hartford loop to allow flushing the return without draining the boiler...



If those guys think you're overdoing things they need to come and see some of the pictures on this site to put things in perspective.



Those guys are basically slackers, and slackers are always critical of people with higher standards. The fact is you're raising the bar, and that makes slackers uncomfortable. Keep up the good work!

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

Around Here

The only few good steam installers I know are licensed Plumbers, sure some Plumbers will do a bad install, without the proper knowledge, no reason to paint us all with the same brush.



Thanks, Bob Gagnon

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

Should Your Main Steam Vents

Be placed where they are, on the tee where it goes to vertical? Or should it be placed on the horizontal pipe, back up the pipe from where they are?



Thanks, Bob Gagnon

Dave0176

Plumbers

Am by no mean ripping all plumbers. Just using the term in general and from some of the licensed plumbers whom I happen to be friends with, I'm stating their opinions. As I said earlier, even the supply house salesman was asking why the reason for two steam risers from such a small boiler.



Hap Hazzard, if I can get the home owner to spend for the extra valving I'd install em in a minute.

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating



I had to put them there out of convenience, or I'd breaking more of his mains, there were no vents at all before.

jumper

apology to plumbers

I also didn't mean to rag on plumbers. We all don't know what we don't know. And customer wants action right away and cheap. My point was that larger buildings started with intricate steam heat systems that over the years end up so "simplified" that it's surprising that system works at all.

j a_2

Thanks

Was not quite sure what and who you were referring to when speaking about plumbers and steam…Sure ,if you have been out here long enough its amazing what you see…Not even all the dead men knew what they were doing….There are a lot of Plumbers that advertise on this site some in the strictly steam section,and its frustrating to see negative comments, such as yours…As Dan says BE NICE…...

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

Apology Accepted

Jumper, have a Merry Christmas.



Thanks, Bob Gagnon

Steamhead

Exit velocity is key

whether you keep the velocity down with one larger riser or two smaller ones, the result is the same- dry steam.



The fact that these boilers have 3-inch tappings is great, but how many times have we seen them reduced to the point of the ridiculous? I've seen these boilers, in all sizes,  piped with single 2-inch risers (and in one case 1-1/2"), and the owners were told the banging and high fuel bills were normal. We proved them wrong, as I know many of you have. Same goes for those Dunkirks with their 2-1/2" side tappings.



Dave0176, you could have gone either way on a smaller boiler like this, but this 2-riser job shows your level of piping skill. Nice!

j a_2

Manf. Specs

At the very minimum you should follow the manf. specs. Most manufactures give you minimum sizes, and dimensions,thats great…Thats how they want it piped for there product to operate correctly…From there as in installer it is your/our job to make any modifications necessary to make the system operate as efficiently as possible while supplying comfort…In my opinion, that is were the many years of experience and training come into play…..Some manufactures take a beating, many times its not the boiler,its the installer….I know i have been there myself…..There is nothing like a beautiful cast iron steam boiler piped correctly….and a HAPPY CUSTOMER