A haunted steam boiler funny story

Shore_heat2

I was sent to a house fo a water leak in basement as I was outside the building trying to get in I heard the worst water hammer ever and hissing that sounded like a broken water pipe.  I go in expecting the worst and found this.  I later found out the other workers wouldn't go back because they thought it was haunted.  The electrician said he even saw a couple radiators jump from the hammering the water was spraying out the radiator vents.

Shore_heat2

The fix was simple install a wet return that had been removed.  It only took 1 day with my helper to chase off the haunting spirits and it now is silent. You can't make this stuff up.

Shore_heat2

I know the boiler header shouldn't work the owner didn't want it redone but it somehow is working silently now.

DanHolohan

Well done. Thanks!

Shore_heat2

I appreciate that compliment Dan but I wouldn't have known what to do without you your books and this forum thank you.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I looked at the first picture and said "where the hell is the return" Started thinking maybe it was counterflow.

Shore_heat2

Yup it was removed at some point they were probably tripping on it and nobody understood how important it was.

Tom51

Wow! You never know what you are going to walk into.
Good job.

CastIronGuy

seriously no one is going to comment on the copper near boiler piping?? they replace the return lines with black iron pipe and leave the rest?

WMno57

CastIronGuy said:

seriously no one is going to comment on the copper near boiler piping?? they replace the return lines with black iron pipe and leave the rest?

you missed this part.

Shore_heat2 said:

I know the boiler header shouldn't work the owner didn't want it redone but it somehow is working silently now.

SgtMaj

So is the steam run to the right of the boiler counter flow?

Adk1guy

I thought the same thing, where is the return? Then, maybe it's a one pipe system and the skinny riser is the bottle neck.

Steamfighter49

Misread the third pic. Thought it was going through the wall. 

 I’m old school - never use copper on steam boiler piping. So I agree. 

 Follow the piping, be the steam. Good job. 

Kickstand55

This is so typical of modern day steam systems.

mattmia2

So was the boiler there through the fire and the didn't replace it?

hexxman

Great job, I noticed thdrop? By the boiler (along with all the other copper😱) in the first picture which puzzled me. But a curious question I have, was it simply plugged at the other side at the return drip?

CarlM

Shore_heat2 said:

I know the boiler header shouldn't work the owner didn't want it redone but it somehow is working silently now.

Key word is now.  The really long riser and high rudimentary equalizer probably lets it work but the copper joints will fail and/or just corroding the cast iron.  I see a new basement steam room in their not too distant future 

MarkMurf

Call this old steam boilerman what you will . Howz about a blowdown on that new return line? You know it's gonna be a sediment collector . Wthout maintenance there is no civilization .

Shore_heat2

Yes the main had a plug in it I removed it and gallons of water poured out. I reused the plug on the return on the tee on floor by the wall for future servicing. I always try to think of the next guy because I'm usually that guy who was never thought about and end up cursing the first guys. The other main is short only serves two radiators and is set up as a counterflow main