One-pipe steam question

Unknown

You are overfired for the load, but I don't know how much range you have to downfire that boiler. The instruction manual should be able to show you the limits.

I do think that you would benefit from insulating all of the piping on the system. Steam flow would slow down and let water return better, because less steam is condensing in an insulated pipe.

Since air vents stay open until steam hits them, and since there are supposed to be enough to make it vent silently, no pressure will show on the gauge until they are closed. Once they are closed, everything is hot and heating. There is no reason whatsoever to continue burning oil to get the gauge needle to move. It only costs more money, and with no benefit.

Of course, since a steam pressure control must have a little range within itself to come back on after it goes off at setpoint, and since the pressure will build after the mains warm up, sometimes there will be pressure on the gauge. That's normal. Running the pressure up any more than it takes to heat all of the radiators doesn't make anything better, though.

Noel

[Deleted User]

one pipe steam

would it be better to insulate the main headers in my basement on one pipe steam and put in baseboard or hw coil .would the system come up to pressure sooner .

Unknown

Ummmm

How much radiation do you have? What is the firing rate of your boiler? How much pressure are you trying to see? Do your radiators all get hot? How long does a cycle last?

Noel

[Deleted User]

Thanks for reply Noel. I have 358 sq ft radiation the boiler is a burnham v74 rated 488 sq ft 117 mbh net 156 doe gross 1.35 gph rated tip I dont know what tip is installed .what size boiler is needed for this load? 86913 btu from 358 edr*240 ? net rating or using gross 358X1.5X240 =128880? im using lost art of steam heating unsure if I am calculating correctly. is this oversized? thanks for any input as long as its not gross sorry couldnt resist. Mike