Pictures!! And possible 'aww-crap' moment... :/

adamfre

Installing my returns today.....

Old


Repositioned


Nooooow, for the possible aww-crap! This is about 2/3 down one of my steam mains... pipe coming in on the left is the main. First pipe taking off from the top goes to a radiator, second off the top travels on another 20 foot to the front of the house, ending at a radiator. The pipe out the bottom ties into the returns. I'm assuming this needs re-arranged, to get rid of the 1-1/4 step down they did before the wet return tee?

Danny Scully

Correct. From following your posts, I know you're all in. So, you'll want to remove that size reduction from the horizontal to prevent condensate pooling, as I'm sure you know.

adamfre

I'd somehow missed this little jewel when I put together my list-o-fittings. It's in the oldest part of the system, a place I'd assumed everything would be pretty much original, and correct. Was surprised when I stumbled on it! Annnnnd, being this is wrong, I think there is one more place where it might be set up in a similar fashion. I'll look tomorrow... *wanders off, looking for the single malt*

Danny Scully

You can handle it @adamfre, save the single malt for completion

Danny Scully

From a practical sense, @Hatterasguy is right. It's been there forever, and I'm sure it's detriment to the system is minimal. As I said, however, you're all in @adamfre! You can do it!

Danny Scully

Obviously he can do whatever he'd like @Hatterasguy. I'm just saying you're capable of doing it @adamfre, and if it were my home, I'd do it. That's entirely because I'm a steam guy. But, I get the feeling you are too .

Danny Scully

Well @adamfre, you've inspired me to get moving on repiping my system. Main is removed, and 2 radiator runouts reconfigured! I should have started a long time ago

Steamhead

Post some pics when it's done!

adamfre

Thanks guys! I'm definitely going to fix it, but it may have to wait until after heating season. I think I'm running out of warm weekends to work on this, and am running out of time I got a lot done over the weekend, most of my returns have been re-connected. Found yet another one I will need to cut a few feet off the floor in order to replace a rusted out section right where it pokes through the floor and angles over to the return. 5 rads, 20' of 2", and replacement of that one rotted section and 3 boxes to build and I'll be ready to go!

adamfre

THIS was a pain. Boring in the returns saved a lot of tranch-digging, I clustered the fittings I'd be using to tap into the return in 2 locations, about 9 feet down the line, and on the end. This hole was located beneath an air return vent where there was only about 14" between the the bottom of the duct and the dirt. you can ALMOST see the pipe behind the shovel head.