New boiler, new pipe banging.

DaveEvans

Been using this house for 30 years. Had an ancient, oversized (of course) Burnham boiler, which was leaking. But the pipes were quiet. New Burnham MaxSteam and unbelievable pipe banging on start up. I saw a thread mentioning skimming. It was skimmed by the installer, but still the smell and a dirty sight glass.
There was one change to the near boiler piping, and I wondered if it could have any effect. The old one went straight up into the pipe network and the equalizer takeoff was right where it came out of the boiler. The new installation needed a horizontal pipe over to the old position and the equalizer takeoff is right there. Should it be below the elbow of the horizontal pipe? (Picture taken before everything was completed.)

Thx, dge

EdTheHeaterMan

Installed incorrectly

I see three things wrong just for starters.

EdTheHeaterMan

Is the job paid in full? Did you or the contractor get a permit for the job? If you used a credit card, you may be able to dispute the charge.

But I would call the contractor and asked them to look at it. When the technician arrives shoe them the illustaation of how the pipes are supposed to be installed an how they did not follow the instructions. Then ask them what they are going to do about it?

EzzyT

Need to have that boiler repiped, start from there.

bburd

@DaveEvans neither the old boiler nor the new one was/is piped correctly. If you check the installation manual that came with the new boiler, you will see where the problems are. The installer should re-pipe it per the manufacturer's instructions at no additional cost to you.

Newer, more efficient boilers are more sensitive to the near-boiler piping. They rely on it to separate water out so dry steam will flow to the heating system. The way yours is piped, it is pumping water up into your steam mains. Unfortunately, we see a great deal of this at heating help; too many contractors do not follow the piping instructions.

pecmsg

someone doesn’t read manuals.

What’s the angle metal still taped to the top?

Long Beach Ed

I wonder sometimes: "What was the installer thinking?"

That installation makes no sense at all. And it looks like the burner tube cover is still taped onto the top of the cabinet.

KC_Jones

Relief valve not piped down to the floor either.

Looks likes the skim port was installed, but most likely needs more, whether they fix the piping or not.

OP, the contractor followed piping that was there before instead of the manual from the manufacturer showing how to do it correctly. What is absolutely hysterical to me is basically they have all the fittings there to do it correctly, but still put them together wrong. Actually taking another look they could probably eliminate at least one 90 by doing it correctly.

mattmia2

The returns should connect together well below the water line as well, the new boiler probably has a lower water line and it loos like the installer might have raised the connection. This is in addition to the header being very wrong.

EdTheHeaterMan

This is the correct boiler piping according to your installation manual

According to the manual If your boiler is model number STMX 075 thru STMX 150, then you only need one Riser (A) that is 2" diameter. It must be long enough to get the bottom of equalizer pipe (B) to be 24" above the water line. as seen on the bottom illustration 7-2. If for some reason the pipe B can not be at or above 24" then you can install a drop header. as shown on the top right. where the riser goes above the minimum 24" above the water line then makes a u-turn down to pipe (B) header That header must have a path for condensation to flow to the equalizer pipe (C)

These are common mistakes that are listed in the manual

And this one should be added to that list

neilc

you crack me up Ed,

"and this one should be added to that list"

clammy

Ya kinda gotta know they where not really steam guys being what real steam guy uses mega press coupling when a 1/4 price standard union is what is usually used by a steam guy not a press fitting thats for newiebes and the lazy . To myself a sure sign of the wrong guys doing your steam boiler install ,aside from not piping the safety valve outlet a true sign of lack of knowledge and following simple code which by no means is a new one . Even if paid in full they should re pipe being there s a diagram showing them what and how it should look to operate properly . i would only hope the price was equal to the work performed meaning cheaply priced .

peace and good luck clammy

DaveEvans

Thanks of all the replies. One dose of Squick and all the pipes went quiet.

pedmec

That's not a steam guy or plumber. Steam fitter don't do black malleable. only cast iron if your a real fitter. That's a homeowner install if I ever saw one.

ethicalpaul

Well I'm a homeowner who used a lot of cast iron on my boiler that I installed. And I've seen many very nice professional installs on this site with malleable fittings. I've never heard of a failure of a malleable fitting on steam piping, have you?