Dead Bryant Steamer (Steamhead)

Steamhead

Two views of the finished boiler job. The plugged tee in the header is for a future steam main that will feed a future addition. We replaced the wet returns also.

The system heated quickly, evenly and quietly. HO has wholesale access so he's going to install the pipe insulation.

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Steamhead

Started this one today

older Bryant but not that old. Early or mid 1960s I believe. Bad piping job and lack of main vents did it in- second pic shows rusted out return at side of boiler.

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Steamhead

We joined the Drop Header Club today

inspired by Noel, Mad Dog, Ron Jr. and everyone else whose name I forgot.

Boiler is a Columbia CEG-225, sized for two projected additions and equipped with our usual side skim/hose-out plugs. That's Rob on the right. Pop worked this job too but left before I got out the camera. Both were amazed at how easily the drop header went together.

Steam mains and new wet returns aren't tied in yet. Hurricane Isabel is coming, school systems are shutting down so I don't know when you'll see the finished job here on the Wall. But I promise you will!

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Dan Foley

Nice work, Frank. Why the drop header? It looks like you had plenty of room for a standard header. Just itchin' to give it a try?:)

What caused the wet return to rot out? Post some photos of the finished project. Keep up the great work and stay dry over the next couple of days. -DF

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Steamhead

Yes and Yes

we had plenty of room but I wanted to do one. We found it really does save a lot of time, for the cost of two (2-inch in this case) black street ells- we came out ahead. And I'll bet it's easier on the boiler. Try this on your next job that has two or more risers to the header, you'll see what I mean.

I think the return fell victim to acid condensate, as covered in the Venting chapter of Lost Art.

Thanks for the kind words- we really appreciate them.

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Unknown

Nice work, Frank

Tell the guys we like it.

Hard to find a reason NOT to use a dropped header. When would you want to fight the pipes to NOT use one, when these are so much easier, and drier?

And easier on the boiler sections.

Noel

Boilerpro_3

Looking good, Frank....

That picture I posted of the steamer awhile back was my first drop header too....does make things really easy. I could of only imagined what it would have been like trying to get the 4 inch black riser and header to line up nice! BTW what I usually do with side tappings is install one side with the plugged tee as you have it and then the other with a plugged tee pointing down. In the one pointed down I install a full port hose bib which allow a nice long slow skim that even the homeowner is comfortable doing. If using only one tapping then a cross is used. This way you have a large upper inspection port/ quick skimmer and then an easy to use skimmer for the customer. I have several in this way and the customers are able to do the new boiler skimmings themselves, saving them money and me time.

Boilerpro

Steamhead

We thought of that

but we also like to be able to open the return-side and both steam-side plugs and flush the boiler out with a hose if needed. That's the best way I know of to get loads of gunk out of a boiler, provided you have the access. But we'd prefer to do that ourselves, and so would most of our customers.

With these Columbias and other side-tapping boilers, a flushing followed by a skimming will get the water side nice and clean, without soap or chemicals of any kind.

I remember your drop header now, BP- when I started the thread I just couldn't think of everyone I'd seen build one!

We finished the steam piping, gas piping, smoke pipe and main vents today. Due to the approach of Isabel I shut down the project two hours early. We'll probably finish next week unless the hurricane passes thru quickly.

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Dale

Doesn't look like a stove

Interesting use of a range connector, was it a conversion from oil?

jerrygb46_3

Nice job!!!!

Steamhead

Fortunately

that flex was turned off since before the house was sold. Wasn't the first time I'd seen that.

I don't know if that house ever had oil. Haven't seen any old tanks or lines yet.

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Steamhead

Thanks

it means a lot!

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Boilerpro_3

Steamhead, Stay safe

with that Hurricane coming thru. May God watch out for you and all those in the path!

Boilerpro

Steamhead

Thanks, BP

so far so good, just a few dead branches blown down in the yard. If this is the worst it gets, we should be OK in Baltimore.

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Mad Dog

Way to go steamhead...sharplookin boiler too!!!

After you do one drop header...its all you wanna do. Hey those Converse all-stars...are they osha approved??????? hee hee MD

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Steamhead

Wait till you see

the finished job. Not sure about the shoes, but the local Columbia supplier has the delivery man take the boiler into the basement! So Rob didn't have to worry about getting his foot smashed.

We should be back on this job Monday.

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Jim S

Nice looking job

I`m looking forward to seeing the finished product.

any plans to insulate the piping?

Unknown

Nice , very nice

I see you run across the same problem we do - mix and matching black malleable with cast fittings . Around here its pretty hard to find 3 inch anything , let alone getting it all in cast . Whats going on with that extra 3 inch tee that has the plug in it ? Future addition ? Great work Steamhead and crew .

Steamhead

Coming from you that's quite a compliment

which we appreciate!

The header on that one is actually 2-1/2 inch, but the same problem exists. The boss got sick and I had all of one day to set up the boiler and material deliveries. So I had to take what I could get. Our main supplier doesn't carry much 2-1/2 inch so I had to go elsewhere for that. Even then I had to use bushings in the tees and one ell.

But we got the job done. We mostly take these old boilers out by cutting the old pipes with the Sawzall rather than breaking cast fittings with a sledge. So cast loses a bit of its advantage there.



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