Steam Near Piping Equalizer, EFM S20 to SteamMax

DenMan

This is EFM S20 had it 40 years. Probably 60 years old. Getting US Boiler SteamMax.

3' main. NOTE: see 1-1/4" pipe next to back side of smokestack, curved pipe out of that 3" main coupling, goes to 1-1/2" pipe down to Hartford loop. CAN I USE THIS 1-1/4" PIPE FOR MY EQUALIZER PIPE FOR MY NEW SteamMax ? Don't see easy way of putting 2" on for equalizer.

NOTE 2- I guess my new SteamMax will have (1) 2" main coming up for main supply. CAN I COME UP OUT OF NEW SteamMax 2" PIPE DO A 3' high DROP HEADER THEN TIE IN AT FLANGE ?

2,600 Sq Feet, 2 story, one pipe steam radiators with condensate return lines to boiler at floor joist under each radiator for basement mains.

delcrossv

Take everything out up to the elbows going to your mains and pipe it correctly.

Nothing is more painful than doing it twice.

You say one pipe- but with separate condensate returns? How odd. Pictures please.

mattmia2

that is the header from the previous boiler that was not removed. it works ok with that old boiler that had enormous internal passages that separated the steam and water. with a modern boiler you will have to cut all that out and bring each main separately down to the new header.

your new header will be in this order, the supply (or supplies depending on the size and design of the boiler) from the boiler, each main individually, then the connection to the equalizer. be careful that if you change pipe sizes that it is done in the vertical or gets bigger toward the equalizer so any water in the header can drain to the equalizer, it doesn't get stuck at a reduction in pipe size. the tees for the main connections should branch off up or at an angle, the branch shouldn't be off the side of the header, resulting in horizontal sections of main connection that can hold water.

are the mains parallel flow, are there returns at the far ends of the mains (i assume this is 1 pipe). if it is counter flow, the condensate returns through the mains to the boiler, you will have to add drips to the mains before you drop down to the header.

watch for any water seals out in the system, returns that currently connect together below the water line, make sure they are below the water line of the new boiler. your returns do need to drop below the water line before they connect together or steam will follow the return from one main to another and close the vent on both mains and keep the second main from fully heating.

109A_5

Why are you replacing the old boiler, is it leaking ?

Has the system EDR been determined ? If not how do you know what size boiler to install ?

Looks like the minimum for a SteamMax equalizer is 1-1/2", 2" for the larger boilers. Pipe it the way the manual states.

delcrossv

"Why are you replacing the old boiler, is it leaking ?"

A VERY good question.

STEAM DOCTOR

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/201267/steam-near-piping-equalizer-efm-s20-to-steammax

The equalizer size is the least of the issues. And not, you can not tie into the flange with a drop header. The condensate will have zero means to escape and you will have steam piping, 100% filled with water. Rip out that abomination of a header and start from scratch.

ethicalpaul

The equalizer size is the least of the issues.

Truer words have never been spoken. Here or in other threads!

Mad Dog_2

Let's do this the right way…Mad Dog