Boiler install GOOF!

Tom M._2

I am somewhat embarrassed to be posting this message after all I have read from Dan's books.Be that as it may, last week I installed a new boiler. This week the customer has complained about the house heating unevenly. Unfortunately I wasn't the one to tour the home to look at the system prior to install and was informed by the man who did, that I needed to set the new boiler aon a 16" base so that the water line would accomodate the system. On my return visit to troubleshoot our customers complaints, my heart dropped as a approached a remote corner of the basement where the end of the steam main was. It turns out that the 16" base brought the water line about 8" below what was (with old boiler)a wet return. The drip legs are now dripping into a DRY RETURN! (I have attatched a crude drawing of what the situation looks like.)Ideally I would like to drop that return down below the new water line but that would involve drilling thru three concrete partitions and going under an enclosed stair case(OUCH!) So after a longwinded explanation of my problem I come to the question I have. Could I drop the drip legs down to the floor and come back up and tie into the now dry return, creating the water seal? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Tom M.

DanHolohan

You could

but you'd have to make sure the pressure stayed low or you'll blow the water seal. One psi = 28". Also, make sure you can get the air out of the end of the dry return prior to the water seal.

Tom M._2

Thanks Dan,
I've got the system operating @ 12oz. and there is a differential loop [just hanging there intimidating me ] piped in in the boiler room with the main vent venting the the system. Is that sufficient or do I need to add a main vent on that return before the drip?

DanHolohan

I think you'll need the vent

Think like air and work your way though the piping, Tom. If you were air, could you get out?

Tom M._2

I am air..I am air...

Will Do! Thanks again for your advice and have a great Thanksgiving!

Steamhead

Tom, is that a crossover trap

in your diagram going between the steam main and the dry return? If so, that's what vents the steam main- into the dry return. If this trap (or a similar trap on another main) is leaking steam, it will interfere with steam distribution.

And it looks like the dry return pitches down from the boiler to the crossover trap. If so, the air actually goes UP the dry return to the large vent on the Differential Loop.

A False Water Line, described in Lost Art, will solve the gee-I-just-turned-a-wet-return-into-a-dry-return problem.

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