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Steam pipes
Marc Brody
Member Posts: 3
Hi Dan,
My contractors plumber in New York City (a licensed plumber) used welded copper tubing to tie into the building steam heating system. There was a leak in one of the pipes coming out of the steam riser and the super is now claiming that the wrong piping was used. My contractors plumber claims that copper tubing is commonly used for this purpose and that this should be no problem. The super says that a different kind of pipe (black piping) should be threaded at the joints because over time the welds on the copper tubing can leak. Who is correct? Will there be on going problems with the copper tubing?
Thanks in advance for your assistance
My contractors plumber in New York City (a licensed plumber) used welded copper tubing to tie into the building steam heating system. There was a leak in one of the pipes coming out of the steam riser and the super is now claiming that the wrong piping was used. My contractors plumber claims that copper tubing is commonly used for this purpose and that this should be no problem. The super says that a different kind of pipe (black piping) should be threaded at the joints because over time the welds on the copper tubing can leak. Who is correct? Will there be on going problems with the copper tubing?
Thanks in advance for your assistance
0
Comments
-
your super.....
is correct. This is especially true for supply piping on steam...Yes it may be commonly done ,but it is poor practice...kpc
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"0 -
You've just described
why copper should not be used on steam pipes.
The basic problem is that, unlike the threaded joints on steel pipe, soldered or brazed joints as used on copper will not "give" as the pipe expands or contracts. Add the fact that copper expands more than steel and you have a recipe for broken joints.
If that contractor wont repipe the boiler in black steel according to the manufacturer's instructions, find someone who will.
Here are two shots of what a good installation might look like. Note that the returns are copper, but that's OK since they do not carry steam.
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting0 -
copper steam pipes
if the copper tubing is already in a concret flor should I have them taken out and replaced?0 -
Correct pipes for steam heat
The current copper steam pipes are buried in a concrete floor..... should they be removed and replaced??????????Will they cause additional problems over time?0
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