Steam Boiler in Church

Dan Foley

We have serviced this 25 year-old W-M LGB-10 steam boiler at this stone church in Cleveland Park for over ten years. Over the years, we have replaced all the traps, radiator valves, F&T traps and main vents in the system. The boiler started to leak between the center sections onto the burners so it was time for replacement.

Dan Foley

We went back with a 7-section Crown 24-7 with a Beckett power gas burner (Lo - Hi - Lo off of a Vapor-Stat).

Brian had the 6" "Bazooka" welded at a local pipe fab shop to make the header piping easier. I prefer the companion flanges to a welded header as the still have some "give" to them.

We fired this one up last week.

- DF

DanHolohan

What can I say?

ChrisJ

DanHolohan said:

What can I say?

"Awesome".

ratio

Very nice! I've got a Peerless 211A-8, about the size of that, that I'm responsible for, but the piping isn't anything near that nice. At least not yet.

Steve Minnich

You steam heavyweights rock!

Nice touch with the Dead Men sticker.

I didn't know "explosible" was a word. Really, I didn't.

SWEI

Sweet -- and I'll be that two stage firing will really make the system hum.

Welded header with flanges must have saved a boatload of time & money over screwed six inch.

nicholas bonham-carter

That's a good use for a welded header.
Any idea of the cost difference over threaded pipe and fittings.
When I have raised funds for my funeral chapel project, I anticipate using a drop header about that size, with 4x 3 inch risers from 2 boilers, and would think the welded header would be more cost effective.--NBC

Jamie Hall

Welded headers are wonderful -- the drop header on Cedric is one -- but one caution: make sure that somewhere in the assembly there are enough threaded or flanged joints arranged so that differential expansion doesn't cause a problem. If this is a single riser (Cedric is) it's not a problem. Two or more risers? Problem.

Dan Foley

Nicholas,

I did not price out the 6" threaded fittings. The welded header was well less than $1k. The primary savings was in labor.

- DF

Dan Foley

Jamie,

Point well taken. I have seen mis-piped headers actually spread the boiler sections apart. In this case, I believe the threaded risers and drop header create a swing joint that will relieve any stress. The companion flanges also provide a little give - more so than a welded connection.

- DF

RobG

Did the boiler come with the "Dead Men's" sticker or is it an option?

KC_Jones

RobG said:

Did the boiler come with the "Dead Men's" sticker or is it an option?

I would love one to put on my boiler....would look good with the flame job. I thought Dan said they weren't available anymore?

Steamhead

Beautiful job, Dan. I'm glad to see you posting your installs again!

j a_2

Wow awesome, maybe not all the dead men stayed dead...

Abracadabra

Dan, when you install a large header like that, do you feel comfortable leaving it's weight on the risers? Typically I like to use clevis hangers.