Water line

John Mills_3

us getting the water line the same point when replacing a boiler? We're taking out a beast where the water line was 4' off the floor. To put it the same point on the new boiler, we'd have to have it on 2' blocks. The last monster we took out we didn't match them up and it works great.

Al Letellier

water line

Depends on the type of steam system you have. Need more info on this one to answer your question. Water line is really critical on a Hoffman vacuum system, but one single pipe steam, as long as you have adaquate "A" dimension, you can lower the boiler. Let us know what you have for a system and we can better answer your question

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Big Ed

Depends

Depends on the rest of the system which should be checked out first before you start the job . Dropping the water line could dry up parts of the return which were figured out years ago to be wet for proper operation . Example; The drips at the end of a pair of mains which where teed below the waterline creating a steam seal . If now exposed could allow steam from one main to travel to the other shutting down the venting or causing damage to steam traps.
Example 2; Horzontal wet return which would dry up if one lowers the water line would cause hammering..

Just to name a few......

John Mills_3

I posted

a few before pix earlier and printed out the comments after them. Trouble is, they and "The Bible" are at the office, I am doing a little homework tonight.

Steamhead

Oh yes, that Webster Vapor system

make sure there aren't any loop seals at the ends of the steam mains and dry returns. The waterline must stay higher than these seals if the system has them. Otherwise you should be OK as long as the new waterline is lower than the existing one.

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John Mills_3

Couple more questions

Despite a rough morning, we're ready to pipe. The pressure guage on top was smashed & broken off in the casting. Took an hour to get the remains out and retap it. Took 5 guys to get it down the L shaped stairs.

Question 1: There was a pipe running from the top of the old boiler to the Webster trap. Do we connect that up to our header? And still need the equalizer down to the return or does that function as the equalizer? See picture: to equalizer.

Question 2: There was a copper tube running from the fill to a fitting on the return. Is that needed? We have an electric feeder. See from fill and copper fitting pictures.

Thanks much.

Steamhead

Answers

Yes, the pipe going from the top of the boiler to the Return Trap should be connected to the new steam header.

Also, the fill line should go into the return where that check valve is, so the fill water is tempered before it reaches the boiler. I'd add a backflow preventer to that fill line.

Can't wait to see the finished job.

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John Mills_3

Many Thanks

Steamhead.

So if I understand, pipe from trap goes to header. Also run the equalizer to the return?

We're using a WF-2U-24 feeder. Run its cold water to that fitting on the return?

Steamhead

Right

The equalizer runs down from the header in the normal way. The existing pipe connecting the Return Trap to the dry return stays right where it is. Feeder line runs into that check valve.

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