Don't You Just Love 3-1/2" Supply Mains?

New England SteamWorks

Another beautiful old Victorian. My comfort zone. But too much fresh water, and the old girl has sprung a leak:

New England SteamWorks

And that old header has got to go. But she won't go quietly...





But it's 3-1/2". Fittings very difficult to source, insulation seemingly impossible.

New England SteamWorks

At least the meager vents are easy to access and upgrade...



Not.

Jamie Hall

You really should come to the place I care for, and take a look at the way @Charlie from wmass managed a big old header (actually the steam drum from a really ancient H.B. Smith). You'd be welcome, anytime!

New England SteamWorks

I wish I could write my true experiences with this one, but it is a PG forum so I will demur...

That header put up such a struggle that although we succeeded in the end, seems hard to call it a victory.

Any trick to lining up old piping? I used them all, plus clamps, jacks, and prayers.

But we survived. Header is connected. Onward.




Did you hear (I am always a little behind) Glen Campbell died?

One of the greatest songs. Ever.

And yes, I can hijack my own thread...

New England SteamWorks

Jamie Hall said:

You really should come to the place I care for, and take a look at the way @Charlie from wmass managed a big old header (actually the steam drum from a really ancient H.B. Smith). You'd be welcome, anytime!

Being a @Charlie from wmass fan, and all things old and steam, I am certain I would enjoy that immensely and I will take you up on that offer. If you could message me with your address I'll contact you when I am traveling in that direction.

Steamhead

Weil-McLain 3-80?

New England SteamWorks

Steamhead said:

Weil-McLain 3-80?

A good eye as always @Steamhead!

Fred

That's going to be a beauty!

AMservices

You got a cool signature with the 4' risers. Hopefully for the next 100 years tech's will see your work and even if they don't know your name, they will know the installer.
Great job!

EBEBRATT-Ed

The boiler that heated our old shop was 3 1/2". Last time I checked (which was a while ago) you could get 3 1/2" pipe but no fittings.

I also ran into 7" once which I almost cut the flanges off with a torch to relocate them thinking it was 6" . Luckily I stopped in time and reworked things

New England SteamWorks

Almost there. She'll be running tomorrow. Money shot for @Sailah, whose vents arrived in the nick of time!

Danny Scully

Why do you tease us with one picture!

Paul S_3

beautiful job @New England SteamWorks ..... i have a few steam systems that work on in nyc with 3.5 & 4.5 pipe and fittings....3.5 i see alot

Paul48

Re: Cool Signature

An engraved brass plate on that header would be very cool. Long after you're gone, and someone looks at your work, and says,"Wow, I wonder who did that"? They should have that answer.

Henry

Nice work! We can get 3 1/2 pipe and welded fittings. Anything over 2 inches, we weld.

JohnNY

Strainers on your air vents. I see.

ratio

What's the fitting between the strainers and the vents? A valve?

Danny Scully

Think it’s just a tee for additional vents @ratio

EBEBRATT-Ed

Really nice @New England SteamWorks

@Paul48, I like the brass name plate idea. Trouble is the newer boilers don't last long enough to make it worthwhile

Paul48

I was thinking, having it on a small chain on the header. You should be able to sneak that out of the insulation, and that's where the craftsmanship exists.

New England SteamWorks

Danny Scully said:

Why do you tease us with one picture!

Sorry...

She's running now.

The owner is a terrific piano player, and her piano was directly above the boiler. Every day I was serenaded. Especially with this one. Ingrid Bergman. Sigh...

Yes, they are tees between the strainer and vents. Despite my best measuring and guesstimates, sometimes I have been off when I timed the steam, and I grew weary of rebuilding the antlers. So for the price of a tee and plug, I add redundancy. Now when I time them I can vent as needed. And of course, Peter approves wholeheartedly...

New England SteamWorks

They moth-balled the boiler many, many years ago when the water consumption shot up and after many frustrating attempts to find a suitable contractor to tackle the project. Most never came back! So they began to use wood and pellets for heat.

Then they found heatinghelp.com.

When the boiler finally fired and filled the radiators and home with central heat after so many years, the owners told me that they became flabbergasted (little did I know down in the basement skimming and insulating), and their thoughts turned immediately to Young Frankenstein. Too funny...

Fred

Wow, it looks amazing!

EzzyT

Gorgeous install as alway @New England SteamWorks

EBEBRATT-Ed

amazing when something works the way it's supposed to

Dave0176

It is beaut @New England SteamWorks

SeanBeans

awesome.