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Estimate the surface temperature of the steam pipe in the basement

jovo37
jovo37 Member Posts: 10
in Strictly Steam
The pipe that carries steam from the boiler in the basement level, how hot would it get at the surface where it could be touched?

Comments

  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,505
    You can't keep your hand on it, 200F+.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    1Matthias
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,984
    I've actually measured some residential steam pipes where they aren't insulated but can radiate -- typically 210 to 215. They will burn flesh badly.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    1Matthias
  • 1Matthias
    1Matthias Member Posts: 148
    To add an anecdote to this...We have a return perfectly at forehead level (If not a bit lower) that cuts through a section of the basement. People had gotten used to grabbing it and ducking under. I then fixed the main venting...suffice it to say, the next time someone went to go under the pipe while the boiler was running, there was a fair bit of swearing...

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