piping

officer1

hi was just wondering in my house there is a two-pipe steam system  my guess it was put in around 1918 do you think the piping should be replaced  do to its age and the associated corrosion with steam heat or would it still be ok .

Snowmelt

No

Unless it's leaking out of the pipe or badly corroded.



Have some pics

Jamie Hall

Steam

will keep the piping nice and clean and corrosion free.  The only place you may have to worry is on wet returns, which should be inspected from time to time.  Even there, they are much more likely to corrode from the outside in, rather than the other way.

Pumpguy

Chemistry

Depends on the chemistry of the returning condensate.  So long as it's alkaline, above 7 on the pH scale, you should be fine.  If it's acid, below 7, you can expect all kinds of problems with iron and steel piping.  

jumper

two pipe in 1918?

Was this one of the first? Where is it?

nicholas bonham-carter

Longevity of 2-pipe system

The pipes will likely be fine, although you may need some trap repair.--NBC