Weil VHE piping

kcopp

Hi Folks.

Looked at a 3 yr old VHE boiler today. Overall it works in good order.

There is a steady drip on the return connection that leads back into the heat recuperator. From the manual it says to use plenty of backing as there is an Oring there.

The HO put a fair amount of epoxy putty around it to try to seal it up… no luck there.

He had been told the only fix was to replace.

The heat recuperator on the VHE I think was stainless steel.

To save this elderly man some $$ I am wondering if I can cut the old fitting off and press directly to the piping…

The old manual has the connection as 1" npt.

I suppose the only was to really know is a set of calipers to measure….

Was just hoping someone was familiar w/ them.

Ty, k

HVACNUT

This is the return connection at the recuperator? It's not a circulator flanges gasket? Or the drain connection?

kcopp

Its at the recuperator.

It was a NPT adapter… at least that was the IO man said.

It come back from the system, runs through the Recoup, then exits and then goes through a circulator.

vhe-series-3-manual_1.pdf

kcopp

In case anyone cares…. the SS piping is a smaller than the copper OD. A set of digital micrometers confirmed.

He is going to put more JB weld over the seam…

Eventually a new boiler is in order.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Any chance of solder or brazing it?

AJCimino

1" "L" tubing fits over the stainless steel tightly. You can use Stay Bright 8 solder with Stay Bright liquid flux (make sure its the liquid). Alternatively, you can by pass the heat exchanger

VHE.jpg

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VHE 2.jpg

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and connect your system return directly to the boiler return. This essentially makes your VHE an HE. You will probably get some noises from the disconnected heat exchanger, but they will subside. JB weld is a long shot. Either of these fixes will add some time o the life of your boiler.

.

kcopp

Thanks. I had not thought about that. I have never soldered SS to copper.