Steam re-do copper main, risers....on and on....

Paul Mitchell

Looked at this job the other day. Been researching it and rolling it around in my head..besides all the other stuff. So I will run as much by you guys as I can, info and what I came up with. Give me your two cents...much appreciated

Existing boiler has a net rating of 67,500btu, also a steam sq. ft. rating of 281..natural gas unit.

Home had addition put on, two story, plumber ran pipes...ALL IN COPPER, 2". This main goes to 4 radiators, risers piped in walls with COPPER. This is a counter flow system...just this new main...220 edr off main.

I feel this main should be 21/2" based on load. Also I feel it should be done over in pipe, risers and all. It is also not insulated.

The two other mains that were there are two inch no insulation. one is 22' long with 87.21 edr off it, the other is 37' 275.5 edr off it.

The 37' main had two radiators added to it during renovation. This main does not heat to the end. Has main vent on it. Will heat if the customer shuts off some radiators in the system.

Exisiting system has 2" dry returns

total system has 630.71 edr
times 240= 151,370.4
times 1.33= 201,322.63 BIG differance from the old boiler.

My feeling is it is not heating based on being way undersized..it was getting away with it prior to renovations but not now for sure. also i have a concern about the counterflow new COPPER main..and the fact that the rest is parallel flow upfeed.

My solution is as follows: Replace the boiler to proper size 201,000 net rated. Insulate all mains and risers i can get to. I would love to replace the copper main and risers but as i said risers are in the wall. I truly feel i should up size this main to 2 1/2 inch. But i am worried about this mixed with the regular system. This main goes into a crawl space and it would be tough to get a return back but it is possible.

I think there budget will handle a boiler. but none of the extra work including insulating the pipes. What do you guys think? Will just a boiler cut it?

paul

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Steamhead

I'd do the boiler and vents now

plus whatever you can insulate. You have to get heat in all the radiators.

If a boiler has a net rating of 631 square feet, you don't need to add your own pickup factor- it's built into the rating. Of course, this assumes all the pipes are insulated.

A 2-inch parallel-flow main will handle 386 square feet. You might be able to get away with 220 square feet on a 2-inch counterflow main for now, since it's roughly half the parallel-flow capacity- but let them know the new one should have a return.

Get the heat into every radiator, and let them know about the copper problem. If you get all the radiators hot, you should get the copper replacement job.

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Paul Mitchell

pick up

i will pprobably have to use the pickup factor. dont know if how much they have in budget.

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Paul Mitchell

well I gotta

assume you guys think I did my homework well. I will take that as a compliment.

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