15 lbs. on a steam boiler

matthew curatola

i was asked to give an estimate on what i thought was going to be an average steam boiler, but when i went to check it out.....i was lost. the peerless 381,000btu boiler had 22 psi on the gauge. the building owner claimed that the oil man said it should be running at 15 psi. there was no equalizer off the header, and it had what seemed to be three pressuretrols. i don't know why the boiler runs on such a high psi....can someone please help?

Mark Hunt

What is it


connected to?

Are we heating a building or pressing clothes?

Mark H

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scrook_2

for building heating only

it should likely be running at less than 2 psi, and the relief valve should lift at 15 psi, for other applications, it depends.
What's the application(s)?
What's the boiler nameplate maximum *steam* pressure? What's the relief valve lift pressure?
Does the relief valve work?
What are the 3 pressuretrols set at?
Are their pigtails clear & clean?
Why were you called out there initially?

Ray Landry

Multiple Pressuretrols

I think code is two or more pressuretrols are required in commerical or multi family settings to act as back up in the event of a primary pressuretrol failure. I'm no steam head, but I know enough to get me by.... Old school systems used to be designed to run at higher pressures unlike the normal 2lbs max in residential...

Unknown

Only with ...

air handlers, or overhead returns.

Otherwise, check the sizing charts. Not much in the recent 125 years is any higher than 2 PSI. Many are MUCH less.

Noel

Billy March

I would have checked the rating on the relief valve or the settings on the pressuretrols,Matty, but....hey..........thats just me........