Steam System Problem

Harvey_3

I am a contractor who is having a problem with a one-pipe steam system. I installed a Weil McLain EG75PIN boiler about 2 years ago and the customer has complained that the kitchen and laundry areas have never heated like the rest of the house. First let me explain how the system is piped in the direction of the steam flow. Coming off the top of the boiler, the main goes up 24", double ells and extends
3 and 1/2' across the front of the boiler, reducing to a condensate pipe and terminating into the top of the Hartford Loop. There are 3 risers coming off that main pipe. The first riser extends up 16" off the main, turns and does one part of the house (this riser heats excellently). The second riser extends up 14" off the main, turns and does another part of the house (this riser heats very good). The last riser is the problem - it comes up 9", double ells, has a condensate drop off of it about 1' after it turns, then goes out 30', turns 90 degrees and has three radiators off of it until it ends, none of which get hot during the boiler's normal cycle. The rise of the piping has not changed from what it was with the old boiler. The only difference is the steam is traveling in the opposite direction as it was from the old boiler. We just installed a new Hoffman 3/4" vent at the end of this branch in hopes of getting the steam to travel faster to the radiators. It didn't seem to help at all. The boiler doesn't run, especially in this weather, but radiators much further away, and even on the second floor, are heating well before the steam is reaching the first radiator on this branch. Consequently the thermostat satisfies, the boiler shuts off, and the steam never reaches the radiators.
The line has been flushed and does not hammer as the boiler is making steam. The one thing I don't quite understand is that the Hoffman vent is "breathing" when the boiler is building steam and not venting continuously. Is that normal? Any help in solving this problem would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you.

Robert O'Connor_4

Are the pipes insulated?

Regards

Steamhead

That third main

sounds like it is piped "Counterflow" which means the condensate flows in the opposite direction from the steam. For a given radiation load, a counterflow main must be one pipe size larger than the more usual parallel-flow main so the steam and condensate don't get in each other's way. It also needs more pitch than a parallel-flow main. What part of this main was changed during the boiler replacement?

If the main is not insulated as Robert mentions, there will be a lot more condensate and this can reduce the flow of the steam drastically.

You mention that you put a Hoffman vent on that main- which one was it? I doubt if the usual #4A would help much- it's a very small vent. Try a Gorton #2 (www.gorton-valves.com). That's the biggest vent made today and should clear the air out of that main quickly.



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Harvey_3

Steam System Problem

Thanks for your replys. To answer your questions, Yes the lines are insulated and the vent we used was a Hoffman #75. One thing that I failed to mention was that looking at the front of the boiler the steam flow is from left to right, the two risers and branches that are heating come off and are perpendicular to the main. The riser that is not heating comes up , double ells and goes in the oppposite direction of the main. Remember I said the only difference between the old boiler and the new one was the steam is building from the opposite direction. Could that possibly be some of my problem or am I grasping for straws?

Harvey_3

Steam System Problem

Thanks for your replys. To answer your questions, Yes the lines are insulated and the vent we used was a Hoffman #75. One thing that I failed to mention was that looking at the front of the boiler the steam flow is from left to right, the two risers and branches that are heating come off and are perpendicular to the main. The riser that is not heating comes up, double ells and goes in the opposite direction of the main. Remember I said the only difference between the old boiler and the new one was the steam is buiding from the opposite direction. The piping of the risers and the branches has not changed. Could that possibly be some of my problem or am I grasping for straws? Thanks.

Mad Dog

Lose the Hoffman, replace with Gorton- worlds apart!

Make sure you don't have any condensate pooling anywhere bacause that can cause the huffing/puffing you've described. Pictures would help buddy. Where is this job? Mad Dog

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