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Steam question

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Snowmelt
Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
in THE MAIN WALL
Went to a new customers house. Residential but I never as this set up.
1 pipe system 2 take off. Then the odd thing was under 5 feet of linear pipe of supply it teed back to the return. Boiler was leaking roughly 12 years old . They already have a contract for the boiler replacement with Sears so it’s a Utica boiler. I believe the pipes are three inch.
Please give me any info on this set up.

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  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
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  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,698
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    Looks like they didn't read the manual and hooked it up to the header for the old boiler. Make sure sears abates that aircell if that is what it is.
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 2,705
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    counter flow drips ?
    known to beat dead horses
    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,698
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    Or is the header in that back corner with the equalizer connected after the mains tee off? It is hard to see that is going on back in that corner. If that is the case those may just be drips for the main or a section of the main that can't drain elsewhere.
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
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    Yes counterflow , ca someone explain how that works ….. also the two vertices pipes in the front is the return. Should they go in the return separately instead of together ?
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
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    The 45 I the back corner is actually the riser , it’s 3 inch going on a 45 then elbows to the right of the boiler. Then looks like two more elbows to two take off then reducing to 1-1/2 to the opposite side of boiler then goes down to Hartford loop.

    Net question is since it’s a drip system is that why it’s 3 inch?
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 2,705
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    Snowmelt said:


    Net question is since it’s a drip system is that why it’s 3 inch?

    exactly,
    steam going out, over condensate returning on the bottom,
    need wiggle room for that,
    and to confirm, there are no other wet returns ?
    there could be, just asking
    known to beat dead horses
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
    edited April 2022
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    You can’t see it but the two pipes in front going down is teed into the mains going out .
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
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  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,698
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    The drips should go in to the return separately below the water line. The way it is now steam can travel from one to the other and potential do things like trap a pocket of air somewhere/close a vent that shouldn't close yet.
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
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    That’s what I thougt. Luckily that looks like an easy fix,
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,562
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    Yes, the two drips can be connected together but only below the boiler water line not above it as it is now
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 2,705
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    are those the only 2 returns for the system?

    I don't think you have the same worries with the return drips connected high there,
    as long as there's good working main vents at the ends of the 2 supply mains, steam will push to the venting.
    these are not steam extensions, or dry returns, where a high connection would matter.

    other than the boiler leaking,
    what issues are you trying to solve for there?
    known to beat dead horses
    mattmia2
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
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    Boiler is leaking, not my ob but I’m going to assist on a new install,it’s a Sears Customer so there installing a Carrier which is Utica ..
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,416
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    Another question would be an I use both risers and make a drop header if I have the space ?
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,363
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    Snowmelt said:

    Another question would be an I use both risers and make a drop header if I have the space ?

    Yes-- do. It can help a lot. Remember that you need to go high enough with the risers -- 24 inches sounds good -- but then you can come back down as low as you need to with the drop header -- just clear the top of the boiler! Also you don't need to come all that far over with the horizontal sections from the risers -- a foot is probably quite enough. Remember riser, riser, steam main(s), equalizer -- slope to equalizer. But you already knew that!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,863
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    Snowmelt said:

    Boiler is leaking, not my ob but I’m going to assist on a new install,it’s a Sears Customer so there installing a Carrier which is Utica ..

    Actually it's probably "Utica Heating" which is a rebranded Dunkirk. How much do you want to bet they will want to reduce the size of the steam outlets?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,698
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    neilc said:

    are those the only 2 returns for the system?

    I don't think you have the same worries with the return drips connected high there,
    as long as there's good working main vents at the ends of the 2 supply mains, steam will push to the venting.
    these are not steam extensions, or dry returns, where a high connection would matter.

    other than the boiler leaking,
    what issues are you trying to solve for there?

    It probably will work ok because it is so close to the boiler but why do it twice if it doesn't.

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