More copper piping.

JStar

Out with the copper. In with the steel. We also installed a 2-stage Gas Control Valve, which seems to be going on to every boiler we touch. Maybe one day, I'll take some videos of the valve in action.

EDIT: The photos are out of order and I don't know how to fix that yet.

gerry gill

Damn nice save there Joe! Beautiful piping work.

Hap_Hazzard

Nice pictures too!

gerry gill

Hey Joe- which two stage gas valve are you using? i know i asked a long time ago, but forgot what you said. We are still using the maxitrol which isn't the easiest to obtain.

JStar

gerry gill said:

Hey Joe- which two stage gas valve are you using? i know i asked a long time ago, but forgot what you said. We are still using the maxitrol which isn't the easiest to obtain.

ROBERTSHAW 700-053 for up to 300K and 700-062 for up to 700K. Both are for direct ignition or intermittent pilot only. Although, I've made it work for standing pilot by adding a BASO pilot safety switch.

We buy them from supplyhouse.com.

gerry gill

Thanks Joe.

Steamhead

Excellent job, as usual.

icesailor

You're a true artist with screw pipe and any other pipe.

A true piping Picasso. Keep working that Square Root of Two (1.414). It works if you work it.

And that Blue Monster Pipe Tape is the BEST, isn't it. What breed is that white pipe paste?

Paul Pollets

Nice! Do you re-insulate the near-boiler piping with fiberglass?
Can't believe the original copper header...you'd think someone would read the instructions....

nycpa

I had two questions, the header coming out of the boiler looks like it comes down then into another two headers then into the main pipe. Can steam come down from the pipe then back up without turning into water? Second question, the boiler head had one pipe coming out but now I see two? What was the reason for that? Would like to educate myself. Thanks

gennady

2 stage gas valve is a nice thing. I would offer it myself. Is it approved by boiler manufacturer?

Don_197

NYCPA that is what is called a "drop header" and it ensures that ONLY steam makes it into the mains, as any water saturated steam WILL condense and head back down to the water line via the equalizer line you see coming out of the far end of the drop header. the reason he piped in TWO takeoffs from the boiler is BECAUSE IT HAS TWO!! YAY!! that slows the velocity of the steam down which again will cause any water to drop out and head back to the water line and not get carried over into the mains. He did a beautiful job........made me smile this morning.....thanks for that 8-)

Don

nycpa

Is the drop header required or a preferred way to pipe. I have a similar weil McCain boiler that's in the picture and I have one takeoff going up into the main, there's at least a few feet of space between the boiler and main

Don_197

A drop header is never required, not always needed, but a VERY good steam piping practice to ensure nice dry steam into your mains. Does your boiler have two takeoffs and only one is being utilized? Do you have problems with wet steam or hammering in your mains?

nycpa

Pretty Sure one take off I don't see a second connection on the top, my bro in law has a burnham and he has one takeoff that is capped. No hammering in mains. I guess best thing is leave it alone.

Don_197

Absolutely........don't fix it if it ain't broke. Often a drop header is added when a new boiler is installed because the newer boilers have smaller "lungs" (space from the top of the water line to the exit of the boiler) and a drop header slows things down and gives the steam a chance to drop it's water before heading into the mains. I have seen many jobs where a 6' tall downfired 1940's boiler was replaced with a 26" tall Weil McLean and the velocity of the exiting steam was so much higher that it just scooped up bucketfuls of water and took it out into the mains with it.

JStar

icesailor said:

You're a true artist with screw pipe and any other pipe.

A true piping Picasso. Keep working that Square Root of Two (1.414). It works if you work it.

And that Blue Monster Pipe Tape is the BEST, isn't it. What breed is that white pipe paste?

We use Monster Tape on every piece of steam/hydronic piping. It allows you to use a lot less dope than normal. The white stuff is made by a few different brands (Hercules, Oatey, etc.). It's real thick, and has a melting point of 500F. We use it almost exclusively for gas lines, because it's just too messy to use on everything else. It's PTFE dope.