drop header incline

MikeMens

I am installing a new steam boiler with 3" risers into a 4" drop header
Does the drop header need to have a slight decline from the end where the risers from block enter the header to the end where risers to supply lines leave the header (return end)? If so how much of a decline? header should be about 5' long Thanks

Abracadabra

I give it a very slight pitch so that water won't pool on the opposite end of the equalizer. Something around 1/2"-1" per 20 feet or so. The thing is you'll still have some water sitting in some of the fittings so...

Jamie Hall

It needs to pitch towards the equalizer - doesn't have to be that much, but it needs to pitch that way. Hopefully that's also the direction the steam is going!

ChrisJ

What size boiler?
The more oversized the piping is, the less the pitch matters.

For example, your piping on a 150,000 btu/h input boiler will likely do fantastic with zero pitch. If it's a much larger boiler where you're chances of having a lot more water passing through I'd want pitch.

Also, what size equalizer? The equalizer is what drains the header so the equalizer and how it's piped into the header is equally important.

Fred

The simple answer is "Yes" a slight pitch towards the equalizer is always a good thing.

MikeMens

This is 310000 btu boiler with 3" risers to 4 " drop header drop header ends in 4" 90 to 4" to 2" reducer to 2" to 1.5" reducer to 1.5" return

your replies are just about what I guessed you would say