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Steam System water usage

Does anyone have or know where to find a good document on "normal" water usage for a two pipe steam system. I explained water will need to be replaced from routine flushing of controls, but the customer would like something in writing as to what they should expect as far a water usage in this small commercial building.

Thanks for the help
Brian

Comments

  • Kevinj
    Kevinj Member Posts: 67
    Water

    I find that the useage is unique to each system. In a perfect world it would be blow down only. I record the water meter before and after each blow down to establish the monthly useage for blowdown and then access the water usage from there and use it as a tool to determine how tight the system is. There are to many varibals to put it in writing. Maybe one of the experts can help a bit more.
  • Nope, that's perfect.

    Nothing else to say. Anything beyond what you blow down is a leak. It will pay for itself in fuel alone to fix it. It'll harm the system if you don't.

    Noel
  • Boiler Guy
    Boiler Guy Member Posts: 585
    Water useage

    Do I understand correctly? No usage other than metered blowdown? Will there not be some loss due to evaporation through vents, traps etc?
  • Traps empty into the return

    Vents shut on steam.

    No water should be lost. To lose a pint of water, 1700 pints of steam would have to blow out of the leak. A pint wouldn't make the water meter spin much, but I think you would notice that much steam in the room.

    No, water disappearing indicates a WATER leak, usually in the returns, or a steam leak into the boiler, which goes up the chimney. Anything else, and the customer would be pretty alarmed at all of the steam.

    Noel
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,513
    Unless

    the vent is in a crawl space.
    Retired and loving it.
  • Kevinj
    Kevinj Member Posts: 67
    water loss

    You also have the situation of vented pumps and recievers on commercial. I have one 500,00 btu boiler in a church with rotted underfloor return which now has 3 return pumps due to the elevations in the building. It uses about a gallon a week over blowdown due some leaky traps. Two years ago this building used about 200 gallons a week !!!!
  • subaru400
    subaru400 Member Posts: 33
    So the meter is only there to measure leaks?
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    The meter is there to monitor water usage. Water usage on a steam boiler should be minimal. If you have a specific question I suggest you start a new thread instead of commenting on one that is 10 years old.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • vaporvac
    vaporvac Member Posts: 1,520
    To answer your question, as KC says , it's there to monitor water usage. Usually it's associated with an automatic fill which is only for emergencies. (What's wrong with asking an additional question to gain knowledge? the question is pertinent even if the thread is old. Is there some rule I don't know about?)
    Two-pipe Trane vaporvacuum system; 1466 edr
    Twinned, staged Slantfin TR50s piped into 4" header with Riello G400 burners; 240K lead, 200K lag Btus. Controlled by Taco Relay and Honeywell RTH6580WF
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    Not a rule, but typically will get better responses if it's a new thread. People will look at that date and ignore.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15