Level return

leaking

what should the minimum pitch of a one pipe steam main return be . I have several 20 ft section that are level and the area is hard to heat. Old building that settled from my planting to many trees years ago. I cut down 10 this year. I have Dans book but can’t find it, not sure about what I read on internet . Getting a pitch won’t be easy.

ethicalpaul

If it's the main we're talking about, about 1/4" per 10 feet. But honestly, a truly level main isn't going to make an area that hard to heat…it might take the main a little longer to heat up due to standing water, but if it's truly level, there won't be that much standing water.

I think I've seen you post several times about these trees you planted. How did they cause your building to settle?

leaking

building is 100 x maybe 45, and l shaped section on corner of street. It has had no trees for at least 65 years . I planted 12, to many and many fast growing 7-8 years ago . They removed the ground water unevenly. Walls cracked , many doors would not close, brick mortar cracked bad. Concrete in one area settled maybe 1.5” at wooden back porch leaving bigger gaps every year where mice got in. About 4/5 years ago one day I saw a 1” gap mice were getting in from concrete settling ! It was insane seeing new damage everywhere every year . They all gone now. If it settled evenly it would not crack. I am hoping to find a low spot I can jack up on pipes . I have a long level on a 10’ piece of wood . And two 16” maybe 1/2” sharp spade bits attached to the wood to penetrate the insulation so I can hit the bottom of pipe metal and measure correctly . It’s a 2 person job . 3 better. Or and the new boiler 10 years ago they might have pushed up the main return to get it to fit easily for a 40 ft section. I am just starting to measure as cleaning out 20 years of everything is the job today . Then I measure as I go. I did buy a laser level . My plan was custom brackets attached to pipe , hitting bottom middle , and one with a target with lines to measure . First it’s cleaning my dam mess 😆. It was hot maybe before new boiler . I don’t remember when it went bad I did not monitor it well . Now I’m there every day.

Jamie Hall

Where is this located? If you are getting foundation settling from groundwater removal, you have bigger problems than just a few trees. That foundation needs to be fully and professionally evaluated, and may need a good deal of work…

leaking

no, it’s nearly 100 years old . To many trees . The trees were growing 4ft a year . At 25 feet they were reaching 35 feet, 15 feet under building into my drains and making me rod twice a year just one sewer drain. Building has 5 , they were planted too close to building as these trees are known to cause issues for buildings . The city planted 7 of them. building in family since about 1947? 1947! I’ve never seen a tree here in 67 years . It it was stable until I messed up , again. Other tress the nursery said ok, but no. I should have done more research first .

JUGHNE

Where are the steam main air vents located?

If in the boiler room, the return may be full of water holding the air from getting to the boiler room vents.

If so, could vents be added to the end of the steam mains?

EBEBRATT-Ed

I assume this is a dry return/main extension above the water line. Wet returns below the water line need no pitch.

If you have water laying in the returns you would probably here sloshing water or banging…do you!!

A level pipe will probably not hold enough water to cause any issues as @ethicalpaulpointed out., maybe only on a cold start up with cold pipes and cold radiation which will make more condensate

leaking

no knocking or sloshing , return is above boiler vents above that. I found one section with a large drop. I jacked up the next section so it’s not level now it has pitch. It helped . But now I see I really need good insulation . Asbestos was removed years ago and I covered it with plastic covered house insulation batts . Pipe insulation was expensive !!! I’m going to start over with real 2” steam pipe insulation. That’s a big part of my problem . As I see after we closed alot of gaps that section rose 1 degree . I need to start from the beginning and do it right this time . Areas of pipe are not supported properly as 10 years ago we were forced to instal Fire Code drywall by city of Chicago. The contractor on drywall removed some hangers and put some up loose. Oh well . I learned . Thanks all

mattmia2

if the house insulation is installed reasonably well it will work although look terrible. look elsewhere for your problems like with the pipes that moved.