Combination 1&2 pipe steam?

Phillip Biston

I am currently learning about steam systems, I have been reading " The Lost Art of Steam Heat" and watched the video seminar. I have just purchased a 2 story apartment building, built around 1890. It seems to have 1 & 2 pipe steam ran off of the same boilers, the riser goes up between the 1st and 2nd floor and runs into a main that runs around the building , everything on the top floor is 1 pipe and the bottom floor is 2 pipe. I was wondering if this is very common. Also I have water level problems, I am guessing from bad steam traps and leaking returns. I think that the bottom radiators are master trapped near the boiler. I am going to try to attach some pictures to help explain.

Steamhead

Those are beautiful radiators

be sure to take good care of them!

This situation is a bit more complicated than usual because of the multiple-boiler setup. Originally the system probably returned the condensate by gravity to a single boiler, but you now have several boilers which may or may not all need water at the same time. I'll bet there's an electric valve in the return to each boiler, so when a boiler needs water the valve is opened and the pump starts.

Instead of traps, I'd mimic the gravity-return setup with a False Water Line. This is shown in Lost Art. The FWL would feed water into the pump tank, which would then be available upon request from a boiler.

Make sure your steam mains are properly vented. This will insure that they fill with steam quickly under only a couple ounces pressure. Measure the length & diameter of each main and tell us what, if any, vent is on it at or near the end. We'll tell you what you need.

Insulate any bare steam pipes. A bare pipe loses at least five times as much heat as one that's insulated.

Where is this building located?

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Phillip Biston

Thanks for your reply,

All of the boilers are directly connected to each other , no valves at all, all are fed by 1 condensate return pump, it takes a while for it to fill enough to kick on. I think there is a problem in the return pipes, but so far I have no water hammer. The building is located in Kirksville Mo.

THANKS AGAIN !
Phillip

Phillip Biston

Thanks for your reply,

All of the boilers are directly connected to each other , no valves at all, all are fed by 1 condensate return pump, it takes a while for it to fill enough to kick on. I think there is a problem in the return pipes, but so far I have no water hammer. The building is located in Kirksville Mo.

THANKS AGAIN !
Phillip