Weil-McLain EG-50 (repipe job)

Dave0176

With this job the boiler is waaay oversized, don’t understand the reasoning behind installing such a large boiler, however the current HO inherited it when he purchased the home two years ago. He said the heat was terrible, very uneven, very noisy, boiler was very dirty. He hired a plumber who came in for a cleaning, he claimed he skimmed and added squick flushed it a few times and left.

HO called me, I did an EDR first and came up with 280 EDR load against the boilers output of 454 EDR, so I recommend a two stage gas valve and a repipe because the piping wasn’t great. We did it in stages with the gas valve last winter and now the repiping. Boiler manual calls for 1) 2-1/2 riser into a 2-1/2 header, however this as far as I’m concerned is waaay too small so in goes 2) 3” risers about 40” above the water line into a 3” header with a 2” equalizer.

Also during a recent kitchen renovation someone installed a radiator or should I say repiped and moved a radiator, anyway they pitched the pipe towards the radiator so you know how well it drains condensate. I’m going pull the pipe down which will put the pipe below the main, so to remedy this it will be dripped into its own return.

To get the old plug out of the boiler I cut it in half with a sawzall then made two vertical cuts, then a chisel and hammer and caped it right out easily.

Dave0176

I prefabbed the header in my garage, takes the bulk of the work away on the job.

Dave0176

All finished and working beautifully.....

zackwatt

Is this a two-pipe system? If so, where did you vent the condensate return side to atmosphere?

Dave0176

zackwatt said:

Is this a two-pipe system? If so, where did you vent the condensate return side to atmosphere?

Single pipe steam Zack.

zackwatt

Dave0176 said:

Single pipe steam Zack.

Darn! I was hoping for a good example on how to vent the condensate side of the system. I'm removing an unnecessary condensate pump, so I will need to add venting.

Ldallas_87

I noticed your Hartford loop looks different than a traditional one with a close nipple. Is there any benefit to doing it your way, perhaps less chance for water hammer your way? I ask because I have to pipe an EG 50 and am gathering info. Thanks

pedmec

@Ldallas_87 It's the preferred way but the wye is not all ways available.

ethicalpaul

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1894036#Comment_1894036

just follow the diagram in the manual and you can’t go wrong

EdTheHeaterMan

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1894066#Comment_1894066

but you need someone that can read diagrams Paul!

EBEBRATT-Ed

Just someone who can read. Most installers can't.

ScottSecor

Around here most steam installers have decided that two-inch riser and header is all you ever need to feed a house steam heating system. Does not matter if the EDR is 300 or 900. By the way, two inch pipe and fittings cost about half of what three inch cost. Oh, and many contractors do not own threading equipment that will do anything larger than two inch.

JohnNY

I see someone's revived one of Dave's old posts from 2018. Dave was a great installer who moved on from the industry. I hope he's well.