Steam heat piping

Mad Dog

big problem, but on the steam side, they are. The constant expansion and contraction eventually break solder joints. It is controversial using them on the returns (due to plating of the boiler), but is common practice. Running out copper is MUCH faster and there is less gunk in copper returns. When we are in a bind and/or the folks don't have the bucks, we will do them in copper, but NEVER on the steam side. Mad Dog

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gbp

Steam heat piping

Can copper pipe be used in place of the black iron pipe that is traditionally used for steam heating? If not, why, since steam is usually only 1 psi.

Steamhead

No it can't

Copper expands a lot more than black steel when heated, and the soldered joints will break as a result. Always use black for pipes that carry steam.



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gbp

Copper steam pipe

That makes sense. But here is a scenerio I have. I have one pipe steam heat,and years ago,the radiators on the 1st floor were replaced with 2 pipe baseboard. The feed & return lines to the baseboard are copper. Also, about 10 years ago, a plumber came in and replaced a return,which was clogged, that is about 30 feet, and replaced the hartford loop all with copper and there hasn't been any problems with the joints breaking. Is that because it's the return line?

Steamhead

Copper wet returns are fine

since they don't carry steam. This is a controversial subject here on the Wall, but I've never had trouble with them.

Steam lines are another story. I'd seriously consider changing those copper steam runouts with black steel. They'll leak eventually.

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Boilerpro_3

They may have used soft copper...

it won't stress the joints like hard copper.

Boilerpro

David Sutton_3

i'm with Steamhead on this one...

i have had to go and remove copper piping from a surply header because it was leaking and it was only a few yrs old. replaced it with blk iron , and the owner said that the noise whent away aswell. he said when the header heated up it would ting like crazy....