DIY “false main” repipe diary

ethicalpaul

As you may have read in another thread, I have a 2nd “fake” main that simply runs up to my kitchen radiator, right from the NBP.

It was strongly suggested that I remove that and instead supply the radiator from the real main to give better performance at the NBP area..

This was after I had converted my cluster**** NBP to nearly a mini-header on my 2” Utica.

Well I’m easily suggestable and I love starting projects so here goes.

In these photos are the existing situation, a drawing of my layout (1 square = 1 foot) and the parts I bought for the main line mods I’ll need.

Weirdly, after I redid the NBP, the kitchen radiator started acting up with no steam getting to it and lots of bad hammer, so I hope to figure out that mystery (plugged steam line??? Seems too big a coincidence )

Here goes!

ethicalpaul

I got my new piece of 1-1/2 main pipe from HD. Amazingly, the guy seems to have successfully cut a decent thread on their Ridgid cutter.

The rest of the parts came from Supply House, they have been awesome plus they helped with the repipe project this week!

ethicalpaul

Live blog: I had to oval one end to get it free, but the old piece of 1-1/2”x96” main is out!

ethicalpaul

The mods to the main went OK. I got lucky and measured everything without significant error 😅

The old valve is just acting as a temporary cap

coelcanth

that's great
lucky the weather is still mild enough for a project

ethicalpaul

Thanks! Well, things just got more complicated—turns out my return nipple is rusted out. The extra stress made it go, but it was only being held together by a rust dam.

Anyone taking odds on me being able to get this nipple out and replaced?

ethicalpaul

How was this thing holding? LOL

neilc

you're gonna wanna figure out what's wrong with your water to have done that

ethicalpaul

OK so that’s a relief

ethicalpaul

> @neilc said:
> you're gonna wanna figure out what's wrong with your water to have done that

My guess is 30 years of no maintenance by the previous owner, plus an automatic water feed.

My PH is decent now, like 9

Fred

It's looking good. Make sure you have good pitch, in the right direction, on your new radiator run-out. I suspect that radiator stopped getting steam, after your header revision because steam took the path of least resistance, being the larger main pipe. I bet if you had set the thermostat up to let the boiler run longer, that rad would have eventually gotten steam. In any case with that rad tied into the actual main, steam will fill the main and the next least resistant path will be the rads, with their vents open.
That return nipple was really bad. In this case that worked to your advantage. The steam Gods are with you!

ethicalpaul

The hartford loop nipple was trashed too

ethicalpaul

Getting better at getting these out geez!!

ethicalpaul

> @Fred said:
> It's looking good. Make sure you have good pitch, in the right direction, on your new radiator run-out. I suspect that radiator stopped getting steam, after your header revision because steam took the path of least resistance, being the larger main pipe. I bet if you had set the thermostat up to let the boiler run longer, that rad would have eventually gotten steam. In any case with that rad tied into the actual main, steam will fill the main and the next least resistant path will be the rads, with their vents open.
> That return nipple was really bad. In this case that worked to your advantage. The steam Gods are with you!

Thank you for the encouragement, @Fred !

Your explanation makes sense! I’ll carefully mind the pitch, for sure!!

KC_Jones

None of that looks unusual if it is indeed 30 years old. It's never simple is it?

ethicalpaul

Nope! I think it’s from the early 90s. I just hope the boiler itself holds together! I’m being as careful as possible not to torque on it

ethicalpaul

I can breathe again and unclench! I was barely able to get all the fittings from HD.

I had to cobble together a 1-1/4x16” nipple because some gremlin has hidden all the 1-1/4” nipples from this HD 🤪

I’m amazed at how much faster everything goes together than it comes apart, especially those rotted nipples!

I’m actually very lucky I uncovered this today at 50f instead of it breaking loose in February at 10f or whatever.

Thanks to everyone who posts on these forums, from whom I have learned everything I know about black pipe and steam!!

And bonus, the steam is being made much smoother or something now after removing that false main. There is pure condensate coming down my dry return sight glass instead of brown boiler water (see photo)

Fred

Looking good. Is that kitchen radiator heating again?

ethicalpaul

Not yet, I didn't have time to reattach it yet after my little emergency! Tomorrow perhaps and I'll report back, thanks!

ethicalpaul

Here it is, all finished! Thanks again @Fred and everyone!

Fred

Great job!