boiler swap on an old hoffmann differential loop- maybe not so good

GW

This job we missed out on due to grant monies and all that city funding stuff. I asked if i could come see the installation after the fact, simply saying i have an appreciation for the old stuff. He nicely sent me some pics, but the pics don't seem to indicate a nice install. i blurred out the name of the company out of basic respect. It seems to be working well, he says. I see several glitches.

GW

hmmm I hate when that happens

neilc

the box wasn't marked which side up ?

GW

if you can't tilt your head

GW

what am i missing Neil?

the_donut

Lock rotate on tablet is always nice.

Dumb question, but is that a 3/4” close nipple for equalizer?

GW

yes they rebuilt the drop on the Hoffman I guess

neilc

it was about the sideways pictures,
you got it with the tilted head comment,

they didn't get reading the manual, and the piping,
my joke was the sideways picture, they took the boiler out sideways cause the didn't read "this side up" either

GW

yes i know it was regarding the tilted pics, i though you were trying to say how to correct the sideways pics

Now I understand, but i still need an IT lesson.

neilc

i d k

nicholas bonham-carter

The problem is with steam nowadays is one of ignorance as to what constitutes “working well”. Many of the maintainence staff of public buildings have little knowledge, and no desire to learn. Their motto is “steam goes up, and payday is Friday”.
I suspect that wrong piping will blow a lot of water up into the system, wrench the sections apart, and make a bit of noise.
With that Peerless boiler should have come the explicit installation instructions, and their excellent book, “The Color Of Steam”, so really there is no excuse for not doing it right.
I can’t see the pressuretrol setting, but that is probably set too high as well. From the sight glass, I can tell those plumbers are more used to brown water work, than steam. Skimming- what’s that?— NBC

GW

yes it's sad, I'm not a steam pro like many here but I try to be mindful of certain things. One pipe, I'm good to go. two pipe i need to be paying attention.

nicholas bonham-carter

When the Feds built a new courthouse here in Omaha, our office building tenant, a surveying company lost out on the work to the lowest bidder.
As the steel framework began to be erected on the foundation walls, they realized the layout and construction staking (done by the surveyor), was all wrong.
Our tenant was then called in to redo all the layout-restaking for new foundation, etc. He said he made 5 times the original bid to get everything corrected!
Your day will come when that boiler starts leaking, and the warranty replacement has been refused by Peerless.
I wonder if the local rep inspects the job.
The Color of Steam below.—NBC

GW

I guess, no one said living in America was easy. Gotta pay attention.

Fred

Sad installation and the Pressuretrol looks to be set for a cut-in of around 2PSI. No telling what the Differential is set at. And a Cyclegard to boot.

GW

yes I'm also surprised the loop seals aren't acting up too. They were roughly 4' off the floor, give or take.

Jamie Hall

oh dear...

EBEBRATT-Ed

What gets me is the no swing joint header. To run from one tapping to another without a swing joint you have really got to work to get that together without leaking. So much easier and better with swing joints

Steamhead

Hack job.

lchmb

tell them your glad to hear it's working well and ask them if you can bid again in a couple years when it fails...

GW

The man emailed me back after I nicely stated they missed a couple of details ( referring to the directions in the manual). I really hate being the guy that picks apart a new installation. I’m almost positive the owner is an engineer too.

He asked me for a price to convert the new system to gas. The grant people made him stay with oil.

nicholas bonham-carter

The problem with a gas conversion is your hands will be the last ones on it, and as the boiler begins to pull itself apart, it will no doubt be blamed on your gas conversion!—NBC

Erin Holohan Haskell

Here are the images right side up.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I just installed a similar boiler I believe Peerless want's 2 2" risers and a 3" header

Steamhead

In the first pic- does anyone else think they butchered the Differential Loop?

Jamie Hall

Steamhead said:

In the first pic- does anyone else think they butchered the Differential Loop?

Sure looks to me as though they did. And why? Worse yet, looks as though they made it longer -- which will change the pressure differential it operates at. I wonder if they had any idea what it was or what it was supposed to do or how it was supposed to do it. Nice drains on the bottoms, though...

GW

Thanks Erin, anything I can do on my side? The pics are good on my pc but end up going sideways

Erin Holohan Haskell

GW said:

Thanks Erin, anything I can do on my side? The pics are good on my pc but end up going sideways

Gary, I'll direct message you and we can sort this out.

GW

Steam guys, does this normally act up as an issue? Just wondering why the system isn't banging with this set up

Jamie Hall

One thing to remember about steam, @GW -- it's incredibly forgiving. Sure, it works better when it's done right. And usually if it's a mess it bangs and doesn't work well and is otherwise a nuisance. But... not always, and sometimes even things which one looks at and says "this can't possibly work"... work. At least after a fashion.

Steamhead

There probably isn't enough water in there to cause banging.

jumper

nicholas bonham-carter said:

The problem with a gas conversion is your hands will be the last ones on it, and as the boiler begins to pull itself apart, it will no doubt be blamed on your gas conversion!—NBC

Excellent point to remember. If you must work on a stinker;document,send documents to everybody,and be prepared to get aggressive when the blame game begins.
Everybody includes multiple departments of the gas company and relevant authorities including B&M company. It helps if your son-in-law is a SOB lawyer.