Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Another Very Early System in Davenport, Iowa "1881 Warnebold House"

Dave in QCA
Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
A few years ago some friends purchased this great old house in Davenport. A few months before closing, the seller discovered the old boiler was leaking, so he installed a new one. While the nice man obviously knew how to swing a pipe wrench, he didn't do so well reading the installation instructions.

This is a two pipe vented system with vertical pipe type radiators. As a result of the house having been converted into apartments many years ago, quite a few of the radiators had been moved around, however, floor marks helped to establish the original locations. The system piping sizes are relatively small, as was typical in those old two-pipe systems. At the end of the radiator run-outs, there was a drip leg. The return from the radiator was piped in to the drip line below the water line, thus isolating the returns from any steam reverse flow. An interesting feature was how they accomplished the venting. Since there were no main vents available at this time, they installed a vertical vent in the base of the radiator where the steam enters and another vent installed in the conventional manner at the other end. All vents were the very early carbon rod type and several of these still exist on the inlet side. In an effort to eliminate one of the chief complaints about steam heat, that being the sputtering dripping vents, all vents were connected to 1/8" pipe that returned to the basement ceiling area. Yes, this is similar to Paul System piping, but there was never anything like that, most of the pipe ends in the basement don't even have threads on them.

Well, through the years, the underground return piping had failed and had been replaced piece meal. Some lines were laying on the basement floor and others were running at the ceiling, without any water seal, and with no regard to pitch. As a result of bad boiler piping and horrendous radiators re-piping, this system was literally an Anvil Chorus! Hammering pipes all over the entire house. The sellers to my friends that banging was normal for steam heat and they would get used to it. Ha!

I'm going to break here with and post some pics, then take up the thread with an additional post.


Dave in Quad Cities, America
Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
http://grandviewdavenport.com
b_bz

Comments

  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
    A year ago, friend Ben "Boiler Wrestler" was called in to repipe the boiler. He did a GREAT job and as a result of the boiler producing more steam and dryer steam, the system only banged louder!!! But, it takes a step by step approach when a person is undertaking the restoration of a historic mansion.


    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
    SWEI
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
    edited November 2016
    This fall, re-piping of the underground returns was undertaken. The fact that most of the basement still had its original brick floor made the process much easier. The section of the basement at the back of the house has a concrete floor, so a new "above the floor" return was installed. At this time, the various pitch errors, cross connects, and other hammer makers were corrected too. Note that the underground piping was insulated with armoflex after these photos were taken.

    As with the many fine pros on this site, Ben's work is always a piece of art.

    Next post will feature radiators and radiator piping.

    Oh, and by the way, the system has been running for a week with the new return piping. It doesn't make a sound, not a single sound!















    -




    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
    b_bzRomanGK_26986764589LionA29SWEI
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,513
    Dave, I wish I lived next door. Thanks for sharing this story.
    Retired and loving it.
    Dave in QCARobert O'BrienLionA29