New install - how’s the piping look?

oldsteamer

Just converted from oil to gas, piping looks good to me but given the number of posts on bad piping thought I’d ask the experts. 

Boiler is a Thermoflo GSA150.

How’s this look? 

EdTheHeaterMan

The relief valve safety tube looks great!

EdTheHeaterMan

I also like the Vent Connector piping. Nice and shiny.

EdTheHeaterMan

Seriously, The piping looks pretty. However look at this photo and look at figure 12 and table 5 from the instructions.
Compare the pipe sizes in the manual to the pipe sizes you actually have, then ask yourself how you think the piping looks.

It might work just fine, but if it doesn't, you know where to start looking.

Best of luck!

Respectfully submitted,
Mr.Ed

EdTheHeaterMan

My comments are not intended to offend, or criticize work that is well done. We all started somewhere and my first boiler install was not the prettiest thing you ever saw. But it worked because I had some help from experienced installers. (on the second day) We all learn better ways to do stuff each and every day.

I'm wondering why none of the other steam experts have not chimed in... Because no one wants to hurt anyones feelings on purpose. If you have a problem that is associated with "wet steam" and come here to find a solution, there will b many that will point out the pipe size issue. But since we don't know if you will even have a problem, then better to stay silent.

Steamhead

EdTheHeaterMan said:

.......I'm wondering why none of the other steam experts have not chimed in... Because no one wants to hurt anyones feelings on purpose. If you have a problem that is associated with "wet steam" and come here to find a solution, there will b many that will point out the pipe size issue. But since we don't know if you will even have a problem, then better to stay silent.

Just saw this. @oldsteamer , the steam pipe size above the reducing fitting coming out of the boiler is, according to the manual, too small. It looks like 2-inch where the manual says 2-1/2". This can cause wet steam, banging and reduced efficiency. It also may mean that if the boiler develops an issue during the warranty period, W-M may not honor the warranty since it was not installed the way the manual specifies.

JUGHNE

Did they leave a skim port?

That plug behind the insulation between the pressure gauge and sight glass might be the place for it.

Best to get that plug out now rather than later.

A 4-5" nipple and cap would be all you need.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Yes it needs a skim port. Looks like the old "header" was 2" so it's a bit of work to change it to 2 1/2" so I can understand why it was left but

The newer boilers need a big header to separate the steam and water.

With the 2 1/2" riser you may get away with it. Try it and see

109A_5

Hello @oldsteamer,
Maybe adjust the Pressuretrol a lot lower.

mattmia2

Check the edr of the boiler vs the edr the installer calculated from measuring your radiators too. The reason the header is too small for that boiler could be that the boiler is too large for the connected radiation and it will run very short cycles.

clammy

As other have stated should have followed the installation instruction set piping sizes they are a minimum . The installer just did 2 inch as to not have to redo the 2 takes which would not have been much work or money .As it may seem to work fine but as always said steam is quite forgiving and it usually takes a lot of knuckle heading to get to the point where it doesn’t work but that takes a lot of stupidity or cheapest one or the other maybe both . I would have lost most of my faith in the installer for not adjusting the pressuretroll which any semi seasoned steam boiler installer would lower prior to start up . Also the boiler should have been cleaned through either just skimmer or the real deal which would be wanding the boiler out from the bottom and then refilling steaming and skimming without that being done any faith I had was surely spent praying . I have seen much worse but I would ask the installer about not following the manafactures piping specs ?
Peace and good luck clammy

retiredguy

If I were piping that job I would have done the work and installed a "drop header" and not reduced the size of the header but instead would have increased it at least 1 pipe size over the boiler's steam supply. I have never seen an oversized steam header.

random12345

Proper piping results in drier steam, which contains more usable heat per pound than wet steam.

https://tlv.com/global/US/steam-theory/wet-steam-dry-steam.html