can the equalizer reduce after the hartford loop to the boiler return?

newagedawn

just curious if the equalizer can reduce after the hartford loop to the boiler return?

Danny Scully

I guess it depends on manufacturers specifications but i usually never go smaller than the return tapping.

Lance

It sure can. Once you reach below the low water line the volume is less. You can even use copper. My best advise for flushing is make sure you can flush from two opposing sides, especially the very wide or long boilers. Like all good CSD1 jobs, piping that allows one to see into the boiler pipe tap is good for service. Sadly I see fewer cross tees.

New England SteamWorks

Yes. But I do it the other way around. @Dan Holohan recommends always increasing the equalizer one size from the specs, so after I do that, the return is "reduced", -but always to specs.

info43

If I may piggy back off of newagedawn’s question.

200k BTH boiler, 4” header, 2 ½” boiler return tapping. While the manufacture recommends 1 ½” equalizer, I was going to use 2 ½" for both the equalizer and the boiler return.

Is there any issue using the same size or using 2 sizes above recommendation?

Thank you

newagedawn

you can always use the large size for the equalizer and return,will work better, if the boiler return is 2 1/2 then keep it the same but if the boiler return is 2" the obviously you need to reduce after the hartford loop at the tee, i think i just answered my own question,lol, thanks ,lol

newagedawn

dan's book " the lost art of steam" page 63 shows how to size eqaulizer

newagedawn

i only have a 100,000 btu boiler and the returns are 1 1/4, so i have a 3" header into a 2" equalizer connected to a hartford loop with 1 1/4 to the return of 11/4

info43

thx @newagedawn

EBEBRATT-Ed

I have cheated the size of the equalizer a couple of times when re piping was costly. I am talking about an 1 1/4" equalizer when a 1 1/2 was recommended. Never had a problem. How you configure the drop off the header is important. I only do it when I am happy with the way the equalizer comes off the header

I like to think of the equalizer as water falling off a waterfall with little to no resistance

Dave0176

The smallest equalizer we run is 2” but then I increase to 2-1/2” into the boiler return because that’s the size of the tapping. I don’t like small piping.