Header

Steamvent

Can a drop header be installed "upside down? Instead of the offset 90s dropping down into the header, can they go up into the header? Would there be any issues doing it that way?

SWEI

Well it wouldn't be a drop header of course, but if the boiler risers came straight up from the boiler there wouldn't be any kind of swing joint action so it might not last all that long. The pics in the manuals show a horizontal header that might cost a few $$ less in materials than a drop header will, but is somewhat less forgiving of varying field conditions.

Steamhead

I think the OP meant elbowing up at the ends of the horizontal pipes, going into the header from the bottom, rather than elbowing down into the header as we do on a drop header.

This would retain the advantage of the double swing joint in each riser, but the problem is the condensate in the header would try to flow back down the risers rather than draining out to the equalizer. So it would not separate condensate from steam as well.

Steamvent

Yes, it would retain the swing joint but I see now that condensate would flow down the riser that has the Tee. Is there a minimum length for the horizontal pipes?

SWEI

OK, now I see it. A pop header.

Steamhead

Steamvent said:

Is there a minimum length for the horizontal pipes?

If there is, it will appear in the boiler's piping instructions.