Steam Heat Pipe Testing

Loukwarm

I have a home that has been abandoned for 2 winters. The system is a 2 pipe steam system. My contractor says that the pipes are probably now leaking so I would have to gut the house to replace all piping. My question: Is there any way to test the steam pipes to see if they are leaking? Is there a way to say remove a radiator and pressure test?

Hap_Hazzard

The quickest way

would be to connect an air compressor and turn all the vents upside-down. Any vents that can't be flipped, don't have floats or otherwise won't hold air can be removed and replaced with plugs. You'll need a gauge capable of reading ounces of pressure.



If the system won't hold pressure, then you'll need to find the leaks. You can check exposed fittings and radiators with soapy water. If you can't find all the leaks this way yo might have to fill the system with water to see where it leaks out.

Mark N

Steam Pipes

There is nothing but air in steam pipes when the system is off. The only thing with water in them would be the boiler and any pipes below the water line of the boiler. You can pressurize the system with a compressor and check for air leaks. Find a competent steam pro.

Jamie Hall

As Hap implied

and Mark said, there is no reason at all why a steam pipe should be damaged by being abandoned for 2 winters.  None.  The place I care for was originally a three season summer "cottage" (some cottage, for those of you who know the place) and was closed every winter.  That treatment went on from 1930 until the place was opened year round in 1972.  42 winters of being "abandoned" in the winter (I'll grant you the boiler and wet returns were drained, of course)..



Except for a wet return which failed due to corrosion, there were no leaks when it was installed, and there are no leaks now.



If you go to test it for leaks with air pressure, though, be aware that the test is very very tricky, and can be very misleading.  What happens is that you add air to the system, but, to avoid damaging traps and vents, you can't add more than 2 psi.  Ever.  As Hap noted, if you want to do this, all the vents have to be disabled -- turned upside down works for some; others will have to be plugged.  Then comes the hard part.  That air pressure will change with temperature.  The changing air pressure does NOT mean you have a leak!  What you need to find out is how much air you need to feed to keep the pressure reasonably constant.  As I say, it can be done.  it isn't easy.



I don't recommend testing a steam system for leaks by filling it with water, although it seems attractive.  The problem is that the pressure generated by the water is an order of magnitude more than the pressure from the steam when the system is running, and you stand a very real chance of creating leaks where there were none before.



A better approach?  Put water in ol' Betsy in the basement and see what happens. Check for leaks in the wet returns (the water level in the boiler should stay pretty well stable is a quick check).  Stable water level?  Fire her up and see what happens.  If the water level still stays more or less where it should (at least within the sight glass), and the radiators get warm, you're home free (don't look for the boiler to build pressure, either -- chances are it won't for an hour or two, if it's sized right).  Once you've done that, then you can go around and look for leaks under the radiators and, if the water level drops in the boiler, maybe in the returns or mains.



Don't borrow trouble!



Oh yes -- and find a contractor who knows something about steam.  Yours, quite clearly, doesn't.