Skull thumpin' the Designers

Eddy

I'm involved in an upgrade project that is a conversion from a steam system to a hot water system. I made a request of the design team to install the boiler circulator on the discharge side of the boiler, "pumping away". Their response was,"normally the pump is installed on the inlet side of the boiler in order to pressurize it to reduce air sepration." Am I mistaken or isn't that one of the reasons for "pumping away?"

kevin

Bingo

Get them a copy of Dan's book Pumping Away. Plain English and Lot of good diagrams! Don't back down! Just prove them wrong....Kevin C.

Steamhead

Why

are you changing that system from steam to water? I find that if properly maintained, steam will work great! It also runs at far less pressure than hot-water, and there is almost no danger of a freeze-up if the boiler should quit (as in a power failure).

About the only thing you can't get for steam are those 90% or higher AFUE boilers-hopefully that will change.

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Eddy

The bean counters claim that a steam system demands more labor to operate then air handlers with direct fired gas burners and the efficiency is about 2% greater then steam. The heating water loop is for the office spaces. I must say it will be sad to see those boilers go. They're 23 years old and could last another 100.

Earthfire

Pressure

that will work exactly as they plan by depressurizing the piping and releasing air in the system and increase the labor bill for all the service calls for noise . The low bidder must buildin some way to make money you know.

Steamhead

Tell them

they're wrong! They're not heating experts, you are!

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