2 Pipe Steam Dry Return?

Richard D._2

Large H.B. Smith,firing 7gph w/a Carlin 701.To 3 Air Handlers.Rating plate gone.Went for no heat and found boiler @5 PSI..Returns cold to boiler..Found all breakers on! Header is bull headed to riser and1/2 hartford loop 12" below water line ..Equaliser to boiler t's to 90 and goes up only..to returns..Will get a lift this week to check out piping in ceiling..Cust.said after bring down it takes the boiler a day to heat all handlers!!been that way for years.Besides bad piping,possible no vents or bad vents what else should I look for??I tried posting this earlier but it did not post!Thanks Richard

Fred Harwood

no heat

Check traps as well as the main vent.

Dale

Condensate lift

See if the system has any steam unit heaters or coils that need condensate lift to the return. Some of that pressure may be needed to lift condensate.

Richard D._2

Thanks

i ll check them out
Richard

Steamhead

If the air can't get out

the steam can't get in. The air vents thru the traps into the dry (above the waterline) return. What happens after that depends on the type of system.

Larger systems often use pumps to return the water to the boiler. In this case, the pump reservoir is open to the atmosphere and acts as the main vent.

If there is no return pump, there must be a way for the air to get out of the dry return. Main vents like the Gorton #2 do this.

Try to see how air gets out of that system. If someone forgot to leave an escape path for air, the system won't heat properly. This wouldn't be the first time we've seen that.

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Richard D._2

Hey Srteamhead

I agree with you as well.Looking onhow this job was piped ( wrong) I can just wonder whats overhead!!They also have 2 P404A Press. trolls.1 line voltege 1 24v to the controll!
No manual reset controlls either!Plus they bull headed the risers!Wait till they get the est.to pipe it right! Worked for years,why should we change!! Thats what I expect to hear... lol Thanks for your help all of you..Richard

Steamhead

Take some pics, Richard

We love to see these jobs.

You can probably identify the boiler by looking in Byrly's "Hydronic Rating Handbook". I have a copy, as do many of us on the Wall. Many of the older boilers were listed according to their firebox lengths and widths- give us that, as well as any identifying info that is still there and we'll see what we can do.

The 24V Pressuretrol may be tied into the pilot thermocouple circuit. I suppose this is a form of "Manual Reset" since (assuming 100% shutoff) it makes you light the pilot again. I prefer a reset button since having to press it tells you why the boiler shut down.

You can probably sell vents and piping improvements by telling them these will save fuel- which they will.

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Richard D._2

I will

when I get back there>>By the way the boiler is oil sorry I didnt mention it>>.It is a HB smith but will count the sections when I get back!!The lo voltage Press troll is hooked up the TT on cad cell relay!I will try to get them listen.I figured they would save fuel,but glad to hear it from a good source!!! Thanks Richard