Steam Re-pipe - DF

Dan Foley1

This is a re-pipe job in Leesburg, VA we completed today. The job was referred to me by Steamhead (thank you Frank!). The house is approximately 90 years old and was piped with one-pipe steam. The current homeowner gutted and renovated the entire house. He sought out advice from contractors on the heating system and he received many opinions: rip it out and install air, convert it to hot water, convert it to two pipe steam???, or re-pipe the existing system. After several attempted repairs by several contractors with poor results, the HO ripped everything out himself (including mains, risers, COPPER header and near boiler piping) and started from scratch.

He ordered Dan's books and piped the boiler and header to perfection in his spare time. I wish I could claim the piping as my own but it is not. Unfortunately, it got cold before he could finish. He hired Foley Mechanical to pipe the main and risers to nine radiators. It went smoother than expected and we finished in three days.

After snapping four spuds trying to remove the old radiator valves, we decided to re-pack the remaing five valves rather than replace them. They worked fine. I actually like the old valves better. The HO is going to turn new handles for the valves in his woodshop. -DF

Unknown

Very nice steamwork , Dan

And the homeowner did spectacular work around the boiler - his first try at it ? Fantastic . With radiators like that , I would never even think of getting rid of them and converting to something else .

DanW

main hangers?

Where'd ya get them hangers? The look sweet.

Dan Foley1

Ron, Jr.

Thanks for the comments, Ron. I look forward to meeting you this weekend and sharing some war stories. I was shocked when the HO said he had re-piped the boiler himself. It is rare that I see a boiler piped to such precision. He did not do the work himself to save $$ - he could not find anyone willing to do the work properly so he tackled it himself. If the computer business ever goes down the toilet (yeah, right!!!) he could find a second calling as a steamfitter. Luckily, he got in touch with steamhead who referred him to me. -DF

Steamhead

Nice Job, Dan

that makes four that I know of- Ed Bratton (Hudson, NY), Noel, Rick and myself, and now you who have built steam systems (or major additions to steam systems) from scratch. And when Mad Dog finishes his we'll have another!

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Dan Foley1

Hangers

I have always called them clevis hangers (not sure if terminology is correct). I get them at my local plumbing house (Thos. Somerville Co.) but you can also find them at Graingers or any sprinkler supply house such as Grinnell. I use them on steam because the pipe heats up and expands so much quicker than hot water. These clamps "give" a little and will allow the pipe to slide as it expands without binding. -DF

Richard Koochagian_2

Proud Owner of a New Steam System

Finally, after four years of steam problems, our house is toasty warm. My wife and I are extremely greatful to all who knowingly and unknowingly have helped in our quest for a working one-pipe system; Dan H. and "The Lost Art" for making steam so understandable that even a non Dead Man could pipe a boiler, to the tech support folks at Dunkirk who always went out of their way to help us out and answer questions, to supporters of The Wall who have lent their advise, to Steamhead for pointing me to Dan F., and to Foley Mechanical for a job well done. Dan and his crew were a pleasure to have working in the house. I never considered using the word "craftsman" when referring to mechanical contractors, but I do believe the term applies to them. The quality of work is more that we hoped for. Dan and his crew did all of this while working in a house with all new plaster walls, heart pine floors, and an owner with a critical eye. The system has only been operational for a day but I am confident that with a little tweeking of the air vents and a good cleaning to rid the system of fabrication oils, the system will provide us with the trouble free heat we want.

Thanks again to all.........

Riles

Great Radiators

I never saw the real intricate ones shown in #6 & #5 the day I stopped out there. I only saw the style shown in #7, still classic. Dan, I'm sure Richard would agree that is one hard working group of guys you have assembled.

Tackling steam, many have tried, most have failed. Nice job. That really was some nice near boiler piping, Richard is a natural.

Glad all turned out well.

Riles